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).
SC - Child sex case filed vs. Citadel; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Thursday, September 12, 2013
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
A new civil lawsuit says that a youngster was sexually abused at the Citadel, later joined the staff there but was fired when he tried to stop others from being sexually assaulted.
http://www.abcnews4.com/story/23406292/citadel-faces-new-lawsuit-from-abused-camper-junior-staffer
AL – Church employee pleads guilty and walks free; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Wednesday September 11, 2013
Statement by Barbara Dorris, Outreach Director, 314-862-7688 [email protected]
An Alabama church employee who pled guilty to sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl won’t be going to prison.
Instead, Blake Jerrod Earl will be serving a year of unsupervised probation and counseling leaving him on the streets, free to harm children again.
NE - Records released on predator priest
For immediate release: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013
Records released on predator priest
He worked in Nebraska but abused in California
Support group urges Omaha Catholic officials to “do outreach”
SNAP: “Some of victims may still be suffering in silence, shame and self-blame”
MT - Records of Montana predator priest are released
For immediate release: Tuesday, September 10, 2013
More than 30 pages of long-secret Catholic church records about a predator priest who worked in four Montana parishes have been made public as part of a 2007 settlement.
He is Fr. John Kohnke. He worked in Hingham, Sunburst, Chester and Shelby.
More CA predator priest records released; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Monday, September 8, 2013
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
Because brave clergy abuse survivors insisted on disclosure, more files about more California child molesting clerics are being released today. We beg California’s bishops to spread the word far and wide about these predators. But we seriously doubt that they will. And we urge the Vincentians to start defrocking Fr. Jerome Herff, “who told (an admitted predator priest) to flee after his 1987 confession and placed him back in ministry the following year” (according to the Associated Press).
Herff’s claims that he told Fr. Carlos Rodriguez to flee because he feared for the priest’s safety ring false. (If this is true, why didn’t he call the police?) And it doesn’t explain why Fr. Herff quickly put Fr. Rodriguez back on the job, even though Fr. Rodriguez admitted molesting kids.
CA - Victims urge Stockton Bishop to Reconsider Bankruptcy
Sex Abuse Victims Urge Bankruptcy Delay
They Ask Bishop to “Listen To Flock” Before “Making Radical Moves”
Group Wants Open Meetings in Each Deanery Before Decision is Made
They Fear Protracted Legal Process Will Mean “Wounds Will Keep Festering”
For immediate release: Monday, Sept. 8, 2013
For more information: David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected]
NY - Albany predator priest case moves forward; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Monday, September 8, 2013
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
A clergy sex abuse and cover up case involving an Albany Catholic priest will proceed, despite a pathetic effort by Albany’s bishop to exploit legal technicalities to keep the cover up covered up.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Judge-rejects-diocese-appeal-4797573.php
Bishop Howard Hubbard should accept the court’s ruling, stop further delays, and let this brave victim seek justice.
CAN - Accused predator priest has court hearing today; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Friday, September 6, 2013
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
Father Damian Cooper, an accused predator Catholic priest, is expected to be in the Vancouver, BC courthouse (800 Smith Street) today.
http://www.theinquiry.ca/wordpress/charged/cooper-father-lawrence-cooper/
An abuse and cover up lawsuit involving him was filed in December 2012 alleging that he sexually abused a teenage girl in the late 1980s to early 1990s. And an application was filed August 8th requesting the BC Supreme Court to order Vancouver Catholic officials to produce documents pertaining to Cooper’s crimes.
IL - Bishop makes absurd abuse claim; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Friday, September 6, 2013
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
Controversial Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki is at it again. First, he claimed that child sex cases were the work of Satan. Now he claims that “of any institution in the country – perhaps in the world – I don’t think anyone is dealing with (child sex abuse) as responsibly as the Catholic Church has.”
How can he ignore the fact that one of his predecessors –Springfield bishop Daniel Ryan - resigned after abuse lawsuits against him were filed?
AR - Little Rock clergy abuse victims meet this week
For immediate release: Friday, September 6, 2013
Little Rock clergy abuse victims meet this week
Organization works to "heal the wounded & protect the vulnerable"
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