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).
AUSTRALIA - Damning evidence of church/police corruption, and popes, including Francis, neglecting duty of care
For immediate release Monday, August 24, 2015
Statement by Nicky Davis, Leader, SNAP Australia, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ([email protected] 0422 538 440).
Evidence today at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse from retired Bishop Geoffrey Robinson delivered admissions of high level Catholic Church collusion with a former NSW police commissioner, which resulted in priests being above the law; and callous neglect of child safety by senior Vatican officials, including all recent popes.
Survivors are stunned that any Bishop, even a terminally ill one, would reveal some of the truth that most church officials work so hard to conceal.
Among Bishops Robinson’s revelations are:
Australia--Victims praise bishop for “rare honesty”
For immediate release: Monday, Aug. 24
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])
Finally, a Catholic bishop tells the truth: Pope Francis isn’t showing real leadership on abuse and Cardinal George Pell took action on abuse only because a secular official threatened him.
Retired Australian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson made this brave observation and this disappointing disclosure in testimony to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
OR--Please help us protect the vulnerable
SNAP volunteers, including Portland SNAP leader Jeannie Cratty, handed out this flier in Sherwood on Sunday, at the parish where Fr. Ysrael Bien allegedly installed a hidden bathroom camera. Fr. Bien has reportedly fled to the Philippines.
We are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org). Our mission is to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded and expose the truth to deter future cover ups of sex crimes and misdeeds by clergy of any faith group.
We apologize if we seem intrusive. But we’re here because we fear that Fr. Ysrael Bien
--may hurt innocent kids or vulnerable adults in the Philippines or
--may have hurt innocent kids or vulnerable adults in Oregon.
KY--SNAP to Archbishop: “’Cooperating’ isn’t enough”
For immediate release: Friday, Aug. 21
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])
Louisville’s archbishop claims he’s ‘cooperating’ with law enforcement in the child porn case involving Fr. Stephen Pohl. That’s not enough.
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz and his staff must use their vast resources – church websites, parish bulletins and pulpit announcements, across the whole archdiocese - to aggressively seek out victims, witnesses and whistleblowers and actively help police and prosecutors pursue this criminal cleric.
In our experience (26 years), we’ve learned that when a Catholic official claims he’s ‘cooperating’ with secular authorities, that essentially means he’s merely responding to – rather than fighting – subpoenas. That’s not optional. Ignoring subpoenas is illegal.
KY--Victims urge outreach in priest porn case
For immediate release: Friday, Aug. 21
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])
Fr. Stephen Pohl is at least the 65th Louisville Catholic cleric to be accused of child sex crimes. We’re glad church officials are talking about this case but hope they use this opportunity to aggressively prod anyone with information or suspicions about Fr. Pohl to call law enforcement immediately.
OR--“Take action now,” victims tell Portland archbishop
For immediate release: Friday, Aug. 21
Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach CA, western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (949 322 7434, [email protected])
A lying, disobedient and creepy Catholic priest is now back in his home country. Portland’s archbishop, who brought him to Oregon and let him escape, should take steps now to protect Philippine families from him and help law enforcement nab him.
We call on Archbishop Alexander Sample to
---write his Philippine colleagues and urge them to suspend Fr. Ysrael Bien and keep him away from children. That’s what a compassionate shepherd would do.
---ask every priest in the archdiocese to read an impassioned plea this weekend from the pulpit, urging anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes or misdeeds by Fr. Bien to call police.
MN-- Victims blast abbey on new abuse case
For immediate release: Thursday, Aug. 20
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’re saddened but not surprised that another St. John’s cleric is accused of child sex crimes. For decades, this Catholic school has been a hotbed of abuse and cover ups.
CA--Victims blast Fresno judge abuse sentence
For immediate release: Thursday, Aug. 20
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, [email protected])
We’re grateful that two predator Fresno teachers will never teach again. But we’re disappointed neither predator will do any jail time.
http://abc7chicago.com/news/2-educators-sentenced-after-sex-with-student/949241/
OR--Victims blast Archbishop’s spokesman for “deceit”
OH--Victims seek “outreach” in predator preacher case
For immediate release: Thursday, Aug. 20
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 glad an Ohio man is being charged with child sex crimes. And we call on anyone in the Wapakoneta Ohio area who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes to call law enforcement immediately.
We also applaud the brave victim who is helping prosecutors pursue this abusive pastor. And we call on current and former church members and staff to aggressively seek out others who may have been hurt by this preacher.
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