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).
NY--Second abuse case filed vs. priest still on the job
For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 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])
Long Island’s Catholic bishop must suspend a priest who now faces two pending child sex abuse lawsuits. Or other church officials must discipline and denounce him for his recklessness.
OH--Columbus predator priest passes; Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 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])
Kids are safer now because a Columbus predator priest has passed away. We hope this news will bring some comfort to those he assaulted.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/04/26/Accused-priest-dies.html
OK--SNAP to prelate: “Disclose other imported predators”
For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Statement by Joelle Casteix of Orange County, SNAP volunteer western regional director, 949 322 7434, [email protected]
Oklahoma’s top Catholic official should tell his flock if he’s imported other proven, admitted or credibly accused predator priests into his archdiocese. And an Oklahoma pastor should apologize to his flock for three self-serving or misleading comments he made about a proven predator.
Both should also urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered any misdeeds or crimes by the convicted criminal, Fr. Jose Alexis Davila, to call police.
Fr. Michael Chapman pastors Blessed Sacrament parish in Lawton, where Fr. Alexis Davila has been worked.
IL--Hastert victim sues; Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 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])
Someone will get more than $1 million: either Dennis Hastert or one of his victims. We hope it will be the man who was sexually abused as a youngster by Hastert.
WA--Yakima bishop refuses to list predators; Victims respond
For immediate release - Tuesday, April 26, 2016, 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])
Yakima Catholic officials are now refusing to follow the lead of 30 other US bishop by posting names of predator priests on a church website this month. Shame on them for putting their comfort above the healing of victims and the safety of kids.
CA--Bishop claims “abuse is over” while he lets predator work elsewhere
For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Statement by 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])
San Diego’s top Catholic official is making the self-serving and deceptive claim that the church’s child sex abuse and cover up crisis is over while he passively sits back and lets a convicted predator priest work in another parish.
Shame on Bishop Robert McElroy.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/apr/21/sdqt-bishop-mcelroy-appeal/#
PA--Victims blast Catholic official over abuse remarks
For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 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])
Ill-considered comments by a Pittsburgh professor who once headed a national Catholic abuse panel help show why the church’s child sex crimes and cover up scandal continues.
http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/10250687-74/maurizio-diocese-abuse
Nicholas Cafardi is at the Duquesne University law school. For years, he was on – and once headed – the National Review Board, a “toothless tiger” of a committee hand-picked by bishops to purportedly oversee whether Catholic officials kept their promises about safeguarding kids.
Because of his experience, Cafardi should know better than to make comments like “I think 95 percent of the dioceses are following (the rule on removing predator priests).”
NV--Convicted perp priest later was in Nevada
For immediate release: Tuesday, April 26, 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])
Just a couple of years ago, a California priest who pled guilty to “sexual battery” against and “unlawful sexual touching” of a teenager was quietly sent later to Las Vegas, Utah and Oklahoma. Worse, he’s just been put in charge of three Oklahoma churches apparently with no warning to parishioners.
http://www.cbs8.com/story/31798050/priest-convicted-of-sex-crime-in-san-diego-resurfaces-in-oklahoma
NV--More charges for predator preacher; Victims respond
For immediate release: Monday, April 25, 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])
A convicted predatory preacher who has worked in Nevada faces more child sex charges after five more victims of his have stepped forward.
Rev. Otis Holland is behind bars for assaulting kids. Earlier, he claimed that some of his alleged victims were “in love with him” and “jealous.”
Now others are speaking up about their suffering at the hands of this clergyman. We applaud them for their courage.
http://news3lv.com/news/local/convicted-former-pastor-holland-to-appear-in-henderson-courtroom
OK--Victims blast OK City archbishop over convicted priest
For immediate release: Monday, April 25, 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])
Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley is both endangering and misleading his flock and the public. Over the weekend, Coakley released and factually wrong, incredibly deceptive and hurtful statement about the convicted cleric who assaulted a teenager but is being promoted to head three Oklahoma churches.
http://kfor.com/2016/04/23/priest-convicted-of-sex-crime-finds-home-in-lawton-parish/
Here’s where Coakley is factually wrong.
--He claims the crimes happened at the priest’s office when they did not.
http://www.10news.com/news/priest-accused-of-sexual-assault-pleads-not-guilty
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