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).
Vatican honors Cardinal Law again; SNAP responds
Four sources indicate that Cardinal Bernard Law is the official Vatican representative at a large Catholic celebration in Syracuse on Sicily. If this is true, we are very upset.
Chaput silent while Lynn makes wild claims; SNAP responds
It’s disingenuous for Msgr. Lynn to claim, through his lawyers, that “no new children or young adults were harmed" because of his decisions. Lynn knows most child sex abuse victims can’t speak up and it takes years or decades for almost any child sex abuse victim to step forward.
SNAP applauds filing of civil suits against Bernie Fine
We’re grateful any time a child sex abuse victim finds the courage to take action against a child predator. We wish these brave men well in their effort to safeguard kids from a serial child molester.
SNAP applauds brave victim in St. Louis for coming forward
We applaud this brave man for coming forward and reporting his abuse. We hope that anyone who has been harmed will follow his lead and report the crimes to professionally trained law enforcement not church officials. That those who have suspected or seen misdeeds by this coach, no matter how old or how insignificant the information and work with law enforcement to reveal the truth.
US victims blast Archbishop Martin & back call for inquiry
We fully support the call by One in Four for a full statutory inquiry to be launched into charges that former Dublin Aarchbishop John Charles McQuaid may have molested two children.
Clergy sex victims endorse proposed GA reform
We wholeheartedly endorse efforts to reform Georgia's arbitrary, predator-friendly statute of limitations. This archaic deadline protects predators, not kids. It makes it virtually impossible for deeply wounded victims of horrific child sex crimes to expose child molesters in court. And it gives wrongdoers - predators and those who shield predators - incentive to destroy evidence, intimidate victims, threaten witnesses, discredit whistleblowers and "run out the clock" on heinous crimes.
SNAP blasts prior handlers of now-arrested predator priest
It is unsurprising that the Diocese of Bridgeport is distancing themselves from Fr. Jean Marie DeGraff now that he has been arrested in Canada. After all, that’s exactly what they did when he was accused of abusing a child when he was an extern priest there in 2008. It is also extremely troubling that both the Department of Children and Families and the Diocese of Bridgeport washed their hands of this priest after their investigation in 2008, because that effectively allowed him to remain free and commit the crimes he is being arrested for today.
Abuse victims blast Syracuse DA & Fine's defense lawyers
Child sex abuse victims are, by definition, children. So they can sometimes get details wrong, especially about time and place. It’s premature and hurtful for anyone to assume that Bernie Fine's defense lawyers are right when they claim to have found exculpatory evidence.
Sandusky faces more charges, SNAP responds
With every new Sandusky victim that steps forward, his former colleagues and supervisors seem more and more irresponsible. Every new victim makes it less and less likely that only a few around Sandusky knew or suspected his wrongdoing. Every new victim suggests that more individuals at Penn State and the Second Mile are culpable.
In wake of DA’s statements, SNAP urges Statute of Limitations reform
Situations like these are exactly why the archaic, predator friendly statutes of limitations need to be changed. When the DA himself must apologize to victims, knowing they are unable to hold them accountable for their crimes, lawmakers everywhere should be looking for ways to resolve the problem. We hope that the DA will join us in our call for statute of limitations reform, and we urge the NY Legislature to take up this important task.