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- Alleged predator priest is sued; SNAP responds
Two men are suing the Chicago Catholic archdiocese and a former priest for alleged child sex crimes.
PA- Victims want PA Catholic official to step down
A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is calling on the head of a Latrobe, Pennsylvania Catholic abbey to step aside and a national Catholic panel to investigate charges that he sexually abused a young man.
MO - Statements regarding Fr. Hederman
Below are three statements relating to Fr. Kevin Hederman, including a statement from a relative of a Hederman victim, a statement from a victim himself, and a statement from the friend of the victim.
POL - Abuse group organized in Poland, SNAP applauds the effort
An organization to advocate for and help the survivors of clergy sex abuse in Poland is now being created.
PA - Victims blast Pittsburgh bishop over recent announcement
A support group is blasting Pittsburgh's Catholic bishop over a short announcement to one parish about a credibly accused child-molesting cleric.
IL - Group holds conference this weekend in Chicagoland
A leading advocacy organization will this weekend (April 19-21) hold a conference that will address the prevention and awareness of the past and present abuse of missionary children.
OK - Victims blast early release for church staff
We’re very disappointed that the staffers from Victory Christian Church are getting released from their sentence. It seems that church criminals often get breaks that secular criminals don’t.
Little Chance of Vatican Co-operation with Royal Commission due to Francis' Poor Record on Child Abuse
The Wall Street Journal this week revealed further evidence that Pope Francis is unlikely to break with longstanding Vatican tradition and surrender secret Vatican files on Australian child sexual abuse cases to the Royal Commission.
MO - Pulitzer winning author in St. Louis
A Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author will be in St. Louis next week to discuss his new book that explores the clergy sex abuse and cover-up crisis.
OH - Ousted Cleveland predator priest passes away
An accused predator priest from the Diocese of Cleveland has just passed away. Despite promises from church officials to be “open and transparent” about accused clerics, as best as we can tell not one church official in Cleveland told parishioners or the public about the passing of Fr. Joseph Lang.
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