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).
TX--SNAP to Baptist officials: Blast proposal to keep controversial Baylor coach
For immediate release: Wednesday, June 15, 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 call on top US Baptist officials to denounce a plan being discussed by some Baylor alums to keep a controversial coach who has been ousted for turning a blind eye to rapes.
The annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention is being held now in St. Louis. We urge delegates and officials to introduce and pass a resolution condemning the suggested retention of Coach Art Briles.
PA--Victims say "Lawmakers should let judges do their jobs"
For immediate release, June 14, 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])
It is the job of judges to decide if those laws pass constitutional muster. Pennsylvania legislatures must put the safety of kids first, above all other considerations.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])
Guam--Fourth victim comes forward to say Archbishop Apuron molested him, Victims respond
For immediate release, June 15, 2016
Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach, CA, Western Regional Director of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPNetwork.org) ([email protected], 949-322-7434 cell)
RI--Five “under the radar” who abused elsewhere but spent time in RI
FACT SHEET: Five “under the radar” who abused elsewhere but spent time in RI
--Fr. Joseph Rocha OP, ordained: 1966
He appears on the most recent list of "new" priests added to Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian's website. Rocha worked quite a few years in the Providence diocese and even held a diocesan post (on the diocesan tribunal). There's been no publicity about him since 2001 when a small article mentioned he had been arrested, but it didn't mention that he was a priest.
He worked in Providence and Warwick. His assignment history:
http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Rocha_Joseph_J_OP_.htm
His status as an accused cleric was first made public by Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian in March 2016:
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2016_03_28_Garabedian_List.htm
VA--Victims beg Catholic officials for “more honesty & outreach”
For immediate release: Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Statement by Becky Ianni, Virginia Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (703-801-6044,[email protected])
A Catholic priest who worked in Virginia has been accused of abusing a male child in another state in 1990. Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are grateful to the brave victim who spoke up, but they are disappointed in the response of Catholic officials in the Diocese of Arlington.
https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/pastor-placed-on-administrative-leave/index.aspx
MN--Disgraced archbishop is on seminary board; Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, June 7, 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])
Disgraced Archbishop John Neinstedt of Minnesota, accused of both committing and concealing clergy sexual misconduct, is apparently still on the board of a prominent Catholic seminary in Rome. That’s disgraceful and reckless, especially because he allegedly sexually exploited several seminarians himself.
IA--Bishop admits abuse; Victims push for more
For immediate release: Wednesday, June 8, 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])
Sioux City Catholic officials are admitting, for the first time, that Fr. Peter B. Murhpy has been credibly accused of molesting a child. We are grateful for this belated move, made at the request of a brave victim, and hope it will bring comfort to others who were hurt by this cleric. We also hope that Bishop Walter Nickless will be more forthcoming about other predator priests who have lived or worked in his diocese.
http://www.catholicglobe.org/?p=7218
Guam--Pope Names New Administrator After Archbishop Accused of Abuse, Victims Respond
For immediate release, June 6, 2016
Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach, CA, Western Regional Director of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, (SNAPNetwork.org http://snapnetwork.org/) ([email protected], 949-322-7434 cell)
We are encouraged that the Vatican has taken this first step. Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron is now a twice-accused predator archbishop—who has also been accused of intimidating victims, bullying Catholics, and manipulating church rules regarding abuse to protect himself.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/pope-names-guam-administrator-bishop-accused-abuse-39637009
But this is only a first step.
We urge the new administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai to engage in a complete and independent investigation of the allegations against Apuron and act upon the findings swiftly and appropriately.
Rome--Victims’ group has further concerns re pope’s new abuse policy
For immediate release: Sunday, June 5, 2016
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003cell, [email protected])
Originally, Francis proposed
--making the cover up of child sex crimes an actual crime in church policy. Now, instead, he’s not. (According to the AP, “Francis appears to have backed off” and according to Kurt Martens, professor of canon law at The Catholic University of America, "There is nothing breaking here” and “what is significant about the new law is that it makes no mention of the proposal for the tribunal, which would have treated negligence as a crime and prosecuted it as such.)
http://www.citizen.com/news/2016-06-06/Nation/Pope_scraps_abuse_tribunal_for_negligent_bishops.html
Rome--Victims "very skeptical" of new Vatican abuse policy
For immediate release: Saturday, June 4
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])
Instead of just sacking bad bishops, or turning over abuse records to law enforcement, the Vatican is setting up yet another untested, internal church “process” to purportedly deal with bishops who ignore or conceal child sex crimes. We’re extraordinarily skeptical.
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