MN - Catholic officials want more secrecy; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Monday, Jan. 13, 2013
Statement by Frank Meuers, Minnesota SNAP leader, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (952-334-5180, frankameuers@gmail.com)
Minnesota Catholic officials want a judge to give them a break and slow down the forced disclosure of names of priests who are accused of abuse. That’s irresponsible.
Any such delay would endanger kids. These accused priests have already been protected and hidden and transferred for decades. No good comes from further delay.
Delays give those who commit and conceal child sex crimes more chances to intimidate victims, threaten whistleblowers, discredit witnesses, destroy evidence, invent alibis and practice “spin.” That’s why it’s irresponsible to give secretive and self serving Catholic officials - who have already shown, time and time again, a decades-old pattern of jeopardizing kids and protecting predators – any more time to keep the identities of dangerous and potentially dangerous child molesters hidden.
Every day the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics are kept secret, innocent children are at risk.
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Bob Schwiderski, SNAP Minnesota director (952 471 3422, [email protected])
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