Media Statements

Millions of dollars have been diverted from schools and programs for children thanks to the decision by Catholic officials in Buffalo to resolve the lawsuits brought on by their cover-up of sexual abuse with a bankruptcy. We hope that parishioners in Buffalo will divert donations towards these children and their schools instead of continuing to give money to Diocesan leaders.

Below is a copy of the closing statement from SNAP New Zealand, given at the Faith-Based redress hearing of the Inquiry into Abuse in State Care and Faith Based Institutions.

Once again, Catholic officials are spending their money to oppose legislation that would support survivors and help prevent future cases of abuse. We are disappointed but not surprised and hope that their challenge fails.

The blame game taking place in Chicago regarding public notice of a serially abusive priest is yet another example of why parishioners and the public cannot rely on Catholic officials to be open and honest about the scope of clergy abuse. We believe this case clearly illustrates the need for secular oversight and involvement.

Yet another Catholic staffer has been arrested on charges. In this case, the police officer and Catholic staffer engaged in sexting a person who he believed was an underage girl. We call on Church officials in the Archdiocese of Miami to ensure that the information about their staffer's arrest is made available to parents at the schools where he worked and that any potential victims or witnesses are encouraged to come forward to local police.

There are signs of progress in the fight for statute of limitations reform in Pennsylvania. We are cautiously optimistic about this move and are hopeful that more steps towards real reform will be taken soon.

Once again, a popular Chicago priest who has been thrice-accused of abuse is making noise in the media and putting pressure on Archdiocesan officials to wrap up their investigation into the allegations against him. We hope that his accusers are getting the help and support they need as they continue to be attacked in the press. We urge the priest and his supporters to stand down until the investigation has been completed.

Thanks to the work of Michigan’s Attorney General and her team, another Catholic priest is under investigation and has been temporarily removed from his position.

While we hope that no one was abused, the fact that such an investigation is ongoing means that something occurred to generate a complaint to the A.G.'s office. We hope that those who initiated the complaint against Fr. Shaun Lowery are receiving the support and help they need and that the Diocese of Lansing is ready to support any other victims who may come forward.

This is a letter SNAP is sending to religious officials in Missouri, Texas, Tanzania, and Kenya about credibly accused priest still on the job today. (A partial list of recipients is below.)

3/21/2021

To whom it may concern:

Fr. “Deo” Mulokozi was at and/or affiliated with your institution. (If this is news to you, just Google his name.) He’s a credibly accused child molester and is apparently working in a parish now.

We beg you: For the safety of children, please take action now.