Media Statements
We are SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We are the largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
CA--Victims want Santa Rosa bishop to oust his disgraced colleague
For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])
In an act of stunning recklessness and callousness, Santa Rosa’s top Catholic official is letting a disgraced bishop minister in the Napa Valley despite his reportedly committing sexual misdeeds and concealing child sex crimes.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6019758-181/napa-county-now-home-for
Bishop Robert Vasa says he has “no concerns” about Archbishop John Nienstedt, who left Minnesota after he resigned and left Michigan after more parishioner outrage there.
NH--Group praises victim who’s revealing her identity in NH case
For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])
We applaud the courage and compassion of Chessy Prout, the brave victim of a sexual assault at St. Paul’s school in Concord by Owen Labrie, who is revealing her identity today. Her bravery will inspire others who have been abused or raped. And we are confident that it will also help her heal.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/st-paul-school-sexual-assault-000000514.html
IL--Accused imam gets probation; Victims respond
For immediate release: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747, [email protected])
We are grateful that an abuse case against a prominent Chicago Muslim cleric has been resolved. But now is not the time for complacency. It’s time for every single person who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes or misdeeds by Mohammad Abdullah Saleem – or cover ups by or at the Institute for Islamic Education – to come forward, get help, call police, expose wrongdoers and protect kids. If he committed other crimes, he should be prosecuted for them too.
IL--Accused imam in court today; Victims respond
For immediate release: Monday, Aug. 22, 2016
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747, [email protected])
We are grateful that an abuse case against a prominent Chicago Muslim cleric may soon get resolved. But now is not the time for complacency. It’s time for every single person who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes or misdeeds by Mohammad Abdullah Saleem – or cover ups by or at the Institute for Islamic Education – to come forward, get help, call police, expose wrongdoers and protect kids.
TX--Archbishop lets suspended priest work again
For immediate release, Friday, August 19, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy, Director, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) 314 566 9790, [email protected])
San Antonio's archbishop is letting a priest who was suspended for sexual misconduct quietly work in his archdiocese. He should reverse this reckless decision.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Popular--390635601.html
Last year, Fr. Marco Mercado was stopped from working in the Chicago archdiocese because of "an inappropriate adult relationship." These are the words used by Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich. Note he didn't say "ALLEGED relationship." Nor did he say "one time incident." http://www.archchicago.org/
This was, we strongly suspect, a repeated series of selfish, hurtful violations of a vulnerable young person, one who was likely taught since birth to revere and trust priests. And every sexual contact between a Catholic cleric and a Catholic parishioner is, by definition, improper and unhealthy, in part because of the huge power differential between the two.
Cupich and San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller are doing what bishops have done for decades: splitting hairs and making excuses instead of protecting parishioners.
IL -- Chicago archbishop lets suspended priest work again
For Immediate release: Friday, August 19, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy, Director, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) 314 566 9790, [email protected])
Chicago's archbishop is letting a priest he suspended for sexual misconduct quietly go back to work in another state. That's wrong and reckless.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Popular--390635601.html
Archbishop Blase Cupich is allowing Fr. Marco Mercado to resume priestly functions in San Antonio Texas, under an archbishop there who was once a bishop in Chicago. Just last year, Cupich stopped Fr. Mercado from working in the Chicago archdiocese because of "an inappropriate adult relationship."
CA--Victims group applauds settlement in school sex abuse case
For immediate release: Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ([email protected], 925-708-6175)
A tentative settlement has been reached in the lawsuit for damages filed by the victims of a Concord elementary school teacher who was convicted of sexual abuse last year.
The Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) has tentatively agreed to pay $1.2 million to the 11 boys who sued the district. The children had sued for damages that occurred when teacher Joseph Martin repeatedly fondled their chests while they were students in his class at Woodside Elementary. The settlement still needs the approval of the school board before it is final.
ME--Group praises victims of ME predator priest
For immediate release: Monday, Aug. 15, 2016
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
Six men have settled child sex abuse and cover up cases against Maine Catholic officials. We applaud them for being smart enough to unite, brave enough to share their pain, wise enough to consult attorneys and strong enough to endure a long process of justice, prevention and healing. Their success should deter would-be wrongdoers and inspire suffering victims. And we call on Maine church officials to post on church websites the names, whereabouts and work histories of all proven, admitted or credibly accused child molesting clerics in the state.
OH - SNAP responds to girl's kidnapping
July 24, 2016
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
9th District
One Maritime Plaza, Room. 600
Toledo, OH 43604
713 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Representative: D. Michael Ashford (District 44)
Representative: Teresa Fedor (District 45)
Representative Robert McColley (District 81)
Representative Michael Sheehy (District 46)
C/O Ohio House of Representatives
77 S High St Fl 12,
Columbus, OH 43215
Senator Cliff Hite (District 1)
Senator Randy Gardner (District 2)
c/o Ohio Senate
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, OH 43215
Dear Lawmakers:
Our community is overwhelmed with grief as we watch helplessly, a family grieve the senseless and violent murder of a 20 year-old college student, Sierah Joughin who was abducted last week while innocently riding her purple bicycle in broad daylight in a quiet rural area less than a half mile from her home.
NV--Credibly accused predator priest is now in Las Vegas
For immediate release: Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016
For more information: David Clohessy 314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected], Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003 cell,[email protected]
Predator priest from Michigan is now in NV
Earlier this year, Catholic officials disclosed allegation
They deemed child sex report involving girl “credible”
She now wants Las Vegas/Reno church staff to “warn others”
Retired cleric, now married, owns considerable property here
Victims group writes to two bishops: “Protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded”
A few months ago, Catholic officials in Michigan admitted that one of their former priests, who now lives in Henderson NV, likely molested a girl years ago. His victim and a support group are now calling on Nevada’s bishops to warn the public about him.
In March, Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron disclosed that his staff had deemed “credible” a child sex abuse report against Fr. Richard R. Lauinger. They also admit that they’ve kept secret about abuse charges made by two other women for 14 years.
http://www.aod.org/our-archdiocese/newsroom/news-releases/2016/march/regarding-richard-lauinger/
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director