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).
IL- Joliet predator priest is freed
We’re worried about the safety of kids now that Fr. “Alex” Flores walks free. We suspect he’ll “vanish” before he can be deported.
We also believe he could easily face more child sex charges and be convicted and imprisoned again. And we believe that Joliet Catholic officials could make this happen, if only they would find the courage to use their resources to seek out more people who may have seen, suspected or suffered Fr. Flores’ crimes.
NJ- Newark archbishop promotes his “right hand man"
According to trusted Catholic blogger Rocco Palmo (“Whispers in the Loggia”), Newark Archbishop John Myers has named Auxiliary Bishop Edgar da Cunha as the archdiocese’s new vicar general.
For a decade, da Cunha has been Myers’ right hand man. Da Cunha has been silent while Myers has repeatedly endangered kids, broken church policies, deceived parishioners and the public about predator priests.
FL- Evangelical mission staffer arrested
An overseas missionary from the Sanford FL-based New Tribes Mission (NTM) has been arrested on child porn and child sex abuse charges. Now, it’s crucial that NTM uses its vast resources to reach out to others who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes.
Given NTM’s disturbing track record on children’s safety, church officials must take aggressive steps to help law enforcement convict Warren Scott Kennell.
If they do little or nothing, it will be clear that little or nothing in this troubling organization is changing.
Stockton Catholic bishop threatens bankruptcy
Stockton’s Catholic bishop is threatening to seek bankruptcy protection. Shame on him.
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130606/A_NEWS/306060322/-1/A_NEWS06
It’s a selfish cop-out when Catholic institutions misuse the Chapter 11 process to protect their secrets and deny child sex abuse victims a chance to expose predators in court. Make no mistake about it: that’s the real motivation here. It’s a lack of courage, not a lack of funds. It’s to protect reputations, not assets.
VA - Group asks embattled VA church: “Let us speak”
Group asks ROC: “Let us speak”
They want to address congregation
Victim's organization holds candlelight vigil
SNAP also urges victims to contact prosecutor
VA- Disturbing new court records emerge regarding Richmond Outreach Center
Disturbing court records in Texas have been released about the Pastor Geronimo Aguilar case.
A Richmond TV station reports:
Vermont adopts new child safety law
We are grateful to Vermont lawmakers for extending the criminal statute of limitations on child sex crimes. We hope they will do the same with Vermont’s archaic, arbitrary and predator-friendly civil statute of limitations.
FL- Miami archdiocese accused of cover up
A civil lawsuit accuses Father Daniel Kubala of the Miami archdiocese with making two unwanted sexual advances towards a man and accuses Catholic officials of hiding the alleged assaults.
The alleged crimes happened in April. The police were notified in April. The civil lawsuit was filed in April. But Archbishop Thomas Wenski delayed telling anyone about these serious allegations for at least three weeks (maybe longer).
IL- Prominent priest passes away
We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Fr. Andrew Greeley. We agree with them that the church is a better place because of him.
MD- Prominent ministers back accused wrongdoer
Shame on those ministers who are now publicly rallying around Rev. C. J. Mahaney just because a legal technicality voided most of the child sex abuse and cover up suits lawsuits against Sovereign Grace Ministries.
It’s dreadfully hurtful to child sex abuse victims when people in authority publicly back accused wrongdoers. And it hinders criminal investigations because it intimidates victims, witnesses and whistleblowers into staying silent.
Support Rev. Mahaney if you must. But do so privately in ways that don’t further harm depress and scare other child sex abuse victims into keeping silent and thus helping child predators escape detection and prosecution.