MN--"Turning the page" is irresponsible
For immediate release: Wednesday, June 17
Statement by Frank Meuers, Minnesota SNAP leader, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (952-334-5180, [email protected])
Some are talking of "moving on" and "turning the page" in the Twin Cities abuse and cover up scandal. . .
Such thoughts are misplaced. They show a callous disregard for vulnerable kids.
Job one is not "recovering" or "healing." Job one is safeguarding kids. That means every single cleric who committed or concealed clergy sex crimes musts be exposed, ousted and prosecuted.
It means that the names of all child molesting clerics - priests, nuns, bishops, seminarians and brothers - must be permanently and prominently posted on church websites and in church bulletins.
It means that predator-friendly laws must be reformed. It means that former Twin Cities clerics - men like Duluth Bishop Paul Sirba and St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson - must be disciplined too.
Adults can heal regardless of what church or secular officials do or don't do. Kids, however, cannot protect themselves without active, proven prevention steps by church and secular officials. So let's keep the focus where it belongs -- on
Let's let "healing" and "turning the page" come later.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected] ), Verne Wagner, Northern Minnesota SNAP director (218-340-1277, [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
Showing 3 comments
Christine Johnson’s description of the Roman Catholic System is completely accurate.