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).
MN--Victims blast new Twin Cities archbishop
For immediate release: Thursday, March 24
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])
The new Twin Cities archbishop is a slightly friendlier version of the old Twin Cities archbishop. This is a disappointing choice for an archdiocese that deserves better and by a pope who knows better.
CA—Lawsuit against school district ends in mistrial, victims respond
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175,[email protected])
A Contra Costa judge declared a mistrial last week after a jury could not agree on a verdict in the lawsuit brought against the Mt. Diablo Unified School District by 12 boys who were sexually abused by elementary school teacher Joseph Martin.
OH--Catholic seminary makes contradictory claims
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Statement by Judy Jones, SNAP associate Midwest director 636 433 2511, [email protected]
Columbus Catholic officials seem to be blaming seminarian Joel Wright for fooling them. This seems like a convenience dodge.
Catholic officials want to have their cake and eat it too. They claim they did everything right with Joel Wright. (“Due diligence was carried out,” they claim.) But they also claim they’re proposing possible changes in the future. It’s hard to square these two contradictory claims.
It’s also worth noting that school officials can’t even bring themselves to mentioned Joel Wright by name in their news release. That’s not encouraging.
AZ--Accused child molester won’t question his victims; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 22, 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’re grateful that an accused predator will not cross examine his young victims in court.
OH--Catholic seminary makes promises; Victims respond
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’s all well and good to promise “we’ll do better in the future.” Catholic officials, when facing abuse scandals, excel at pledging improvement. They’re usually very poor, however, at follow through.
It’s hard to believe that church officials in Columbus, Steubenville and Vermont were unaware that dozens of seminaries had rejected Joel Wright. And Catholic officials have been talking about better seminary screening for decades. So it’s hard to be enthusiastic about this latest promise.
CA--Victims urge outreach by Oakland/San Jose bishops in case of recently exposed predator priest, again demand abuser names be made public
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175,[email protected])
In a lawsuit filed recently in the state of Texas Father Milton Eggerling was accused of child sexual abuse for the first time in public. The priest was accused of molesting an altar boy in Austin in the 1970s, beginning when the boy was 11 and continuing for five years.
The attorney for the victim, Tahira Khan Merritt, said that Eggerling, who was ordained in 1954, was a priest for a long time and likely had more victims. She also said that her client filed the lawsuit hoping that others would come forward.
http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Eggerling_Milton.htm
WA--Victims want accused predator suspended
For immediate release: Friday, March 18, 2016
For more info: David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected]
Victims want accused predator suspended
Almost 3 weeks ago, he was sued for abuse
Alleged crimes took place for over a decade
But he is apparently being keeping on the job
SNAP: “He’s crossed the river & now deals with alcoholics
Group urges Catholic officials to “reach out to other victims”
An alleged predator priest is still on the job in the Seattle archdiocese today and a victims’’ group wants him ousted.
In a civil lawsuit filed three weeks ago in Oregon, for the first time publicly, Fr. Emmerich Vogt was accused of being a child molester. But his Catholic supervisors have not suspended him.
http://katu.com/news/local/lawsuit-claims-priest-sexually-abused-portland-boy
http://roggendorf-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/complaint-copy.pdf
NH--Victims see four “positives” in prep school rapist’s jailing
For immediate release: Friday, March 18, 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 are grateful that Owen Labrie is behind bars and believe his probation violation may have three positive impacts.
MS--Victims applaud arrest of predatory Baptist preacher
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 16
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])
Thank heavens for the attentive and responsive parents who reported an allegedly abusive Baptist youth pastor to the Hancock County sheriff. Often kids can’t tell, parents don’t believe them, or families foolishly tell church figures, not secular authorities. This mom and dad, however, promptly did the proper thing – they honored their moral and civic duty by calling law enforcement. We applaud them for their courage and wisdom.
PA--SNAP: Bishops, Catholics & public must punish Franciscans
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 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])
At least eight other Franciscan friars – besides notorious serial predator Brother Stephen Baker - had been transferred to other locations following abuse allegations. So says Pennsylvania’s attorney general.
The next step is obvious: The Franciscans must disclose who and where these eight accused predators are and have been. That’s a belated but crucial step forward.
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