Msgr. Craig Harrison to Resign, SNAP Calls on Diocese of Fresno to Release Results of Internal Investigation
At a press conference this afternoon, embattled Msgr. Craig Harrison announced that he is resigning from the priesthood. We hope that this decision will comfort the multiple accusers who have come forward and that Catholic officials in Fresno will release the results of their internal investigation soon.
Msgr. Harrison was first publicly accused of abuse almost two years ago. The clergyman and his attorneys may cite the fact that he was not charged with crimes as evidence of his innocence, but in fact local district attorneys stated publicly that they believed the claims against him were credible but they were prevented from bringing charges due to the statute of limitations. Avoiding charges on a legal technicality is not proof of innocence.
Many in the public and the media have assumed that the accusations against Msgr. Harrison must be false because he is a popular priest and his accusers came forward years after the alleged abuse occurred. But in fact, delayed disclosure of sexual abuse is the norm, not the exception, especially when the accused is a person of prominent standing within the community. If anything is unique about this case, it is that the accusers came forward earlier than data would suggest.
At the press conference, Msgr. Harrison says he plans to continue preaching. That is a tired path used by many who have been censured for abuse in the past. They switch religions and in that way continue to cultivate power and access to victims. Look no further than another Fresno example, Fr. Jesus Serna. Fr. Serna was a Catholic priest with the Diocese of Yakima, where he worked from 1997-2005, when he was first accused of abuse in 2005. After his laicization, Fr. Serna reinvented himself as an Anglican priest in Fresno, where he was arrested for sexually abusing vulnerable immigrant men. After he was removed as an Anglican priest, Fr. Serna switched religions again and continued to preach to his ardent followers, despite the trail of victims left behind.
Thanks to the “window to justice” opened in California by AB 218, survivors now have an opportunity to expose their abusers and enablers in civil court. We are grateful to legislators and California’s Attorney General for creating a climate where victims feel empowered to come forward. We hope that this story will encourage other survivors who may be suffering in silence to come forward, make a report to local police and prosecutors, and start healing.
CONTACT: Dan McNevin, SNAP Board Member([email protected], 415-341-6417), Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Coordinator ([email protected], 925-708-6175) Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
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
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