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).
Story of Fr. Antonio Demonstrates that Abuse Thrives When Church Officials Stay Silent
An excellent piece of investigative journalism from KQED lays bare an intrinsically dangerous truth within religious institutions: abuse thrives when those in charge do not do their jobs. (A Spanish version of this story is available here.)
USCCB Abuse Audit Reports More than 4,400 Allegations in 2019 Alone
The annual audit of child protection efforts by the US Catholic Church has shown that there is still a lot of work to do. More than 4,400 allegations of clergy sexual abuse were reported in 2019 alone. We are concerned that there are even more allegations that have not yet been reported, and we are especially concerned about what is being done about those church leaders who have enabled abuse.
Allegation Against Longtime Columbus OH Priest Found “Credible”
A longtime Catholic priest in Ohio is the subject of a “credible allegation” of abuse, according to the Diocese of Columbus. We call on diocesan officials to use every tool and resource at their disposal to share this information with parishioners and the public in every community where this cleric worked and to encourage victims and witnesses to come forward to local police and prosecutors.
Marianists Release List of Accused Priests, SNAP Calls for More Action
Finally, 18 years after US Catholic officials began posting the names of priests accused of abuse on church websites, the Marianist Order has released a list of 46 clerics and brothers found to have sexually abused a minor. Parents, police, parishioners, prosecutors and the public should look closely at this list and demand answers from the provincial as to why it took so long for it to be published.
Fresno Anglican Priest Charged With Abuse Sued in Civil Court, Too
A Fresno Anglican priest who is facing criminal charges for sex crimes in California has been sued by two men who testified against him. We hope this lawsuit will encourage other victims to come forward and will also bring those who may have information or suspicions out of the woodwork.
Priest Critical of Catholic Church’s Handling of Sex Abuse Remains Defiant, SNAP Stands in Support of Fr. Mark White
Despite being a popular pastor who heads two parishes in the Diocese of Richmond, Fr. Mark White has been ordered by the Vatican and his Bishop, Barry Knestout, to cease writing his personal blog if he wants to remain a priest. Still, Fr. White is choosing to stand by his principles and beliefs rather than bow to pressure from Catholic officials. We applaud his bravery and stand with him as he speaks out for what is right.
SNAP Applauds Creditors Committee in New Orleans Bankruptcy
We applaud the efforts of the New Orleans Archdiocese creditors committee. The group is pushing back against archdiocesan officials, pressing them to make secret church documents public. We know that transparency is a key part of prevention and we hope the creditors committee is successful in their fight.
Archbishop Cordileone Decries “Oppression” Despite Oppressing Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone decries the toppling of a statue of St. Junipero Serra and suggests that the Catholic Church is the victim of oppression by today's protesters for social justice. However, he admits there may be "historical wrongs" committed by the saint and that those wrongs, perhaps, deserve discussion.
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