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--Victims blast Orthodox man who assaulted whistleblower
For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 3
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])
A Brooklyn abuse advocate is suing a man who allegedly threw bleach on him.
Malta--Bishops pledge to post predators’ names
For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 3
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])
We are grateful, and kids are safer, any time a predator’s name is posted on line or appears in print. So we’re glad that Malta Catholic officials will reportedly put child molesting clerics’ names on church websites.
MO-- Diocese pays settlement re Naples predator priest
For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015
For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Director (314) 566-9790 cell, [email protected], [email protected]
Diocese pays abuse settlement
Cleric is long time Naples resident
Victim is veteran head of support group
Pedophile priest worked in nine Missouri towns
Man worries that predator “may still be hurting kids now”
MI--Orthodox bishop ousted for alleged sexual misconduct
For immediate release, Thursday, September 3, 2015
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, CA, Orthodox Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175, [email protected])
A Michigan Orthodox bishop has been put on leave and forbidden to work as a priest while allegations of sexual misconduct are investigated. A victims’ group applauds the disclosure but wants church officials to do more.
On September 1st, Dearborn Heights Archbishop Nathaniel Popp (517-522-4800, nathaniel@roea.org) publicly disclosed on his website that his auxiliary bishop, Irineu Duvlea (517-456-4474, [email protected]), was being investigated by the Office for Review of Sexual Misconduct Allegations of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
IL--Victims write Peoria bishop about accused priest
For immediate release: Wednesday, September 2, 2015
For more information: David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected], [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314 503 0003, [email protected]), Jeff Jones, Peoria SNAP leader (jjones10072gmail.com, 815 985 9441)
Victims challenge bishop about alleged predator priest
He’s a “credibly accused child molester,” church admits
But group worries that his whereabouts now are secret
“We fear he has hurt others or is hurting others,” SNAP says
Cleric reportedly also led weekend retreats for Catholic teenagers
Poland--Victims urge papal outreach to archbishop Wesolowski's victims; Polish bishops should do this, too!
For immediate release: Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (+1 312-399-4747, [email protected])
For the sake of healing, we call on Pope Francis to aggressively do outreach in each of the ten nations where Archbishop Josef Wesolowski spent time as a cleric. The pontiff should publicly beg anyone who was hurt by Wesolowski to come forward and get help.
(The nations are: Poland, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Tadjikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Dominican Republic, Italy and Puerto Rico.)
Vatican--Victims urge papal outreach to archbishop Wesolowski's victims
For immediate release: Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747, [email protected])
For the sake of healing, we call on Pope Francis to aggressively do outreach in each of the ten nations where archbishop Josef Wesolowski spent time as a cleric. The pontiff should publicly beg anyone who was hurt by Wesolowski to come forward and get help.
(The nations are: Poland, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Tadjikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Dominican Republic, Italy and Puerto Rico.)
Vatican--Victims urge other Wesolowski victims to “come forward”
For immediate release: Friday, Aug. 28
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, [email protected])
Kids are safer now that Wesolowski has passed. But sadly, now no one will ever know how many Catholic officials concealed his crimes for how many months or years.
Had Vatican officials turned over Wesolowski to secular authorities, as they should have, he might have already been tried, convicted and imprisoned. And more truth about wrongdoers in his case might have surfaced.
MN-- Hibbing Catholic Priest now faces 5 felony counts
For immediate release Friday, August 28
Statement by northern Minnesota SNAP leader Verne Wagner ([email protected], 218-340-1277)
A Catholic priest, Fr. Brian Lederer, who was arrested in May of 2015 now faces 5 felony counts. A fourth victim has come forward and child pornography has been found on his personal computer. Lederer is currently free on bail.
WI--Vatican rules against Madison predator priest
For immediate release: Friday, Aug. 28, 2015
For more information: Peter Isely of Milwaukee, 414 429 7259, [email protected], David Clohessy of St. Louis, 314 566 9790 cell, [email protected], [email protected]
Vatican rules against predator priest
Child molesting cleric worked in nine WI towns
He once unsuccessfully sued one of his victims
SNAP: “Madison bishop must warn others about him”
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