NC - Scoutmaster in NC admits abusing kids, SNAP responds
A scoutmaster who was named in the BSA’s “perversion files” today admitted his guilt, but said he did so under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Drinking beer and smoking pot is no excuse for abusing children. The fact that Thomas Menghi Jr. says that he “isn’t excusing his actions” doesn’t matter; he is rationalizing and defending them. At the very least, it’s good that he admitted he’s done something wrong. The problem is that there is nothing that can be done about it.
This is why cover-ups are so devastating. By hiding the abuse and letting knowledge of his crimes stay secret, Boy Scout officials prevented the kids that Menghi Jr. molested from ever getting the chance to seek justice. These victims were barred from justice by the statute of limitations and the BSA.
We hope that cases such as these will help spur changes. We hope that people will realize that the statue of limitations is archaic and does nothing but protect predators. We hope that organizations will see that by hiding abuse it doesn’t go away, but comes up later and makes the organization and officials look horrible. Had the Boy Scouts done the right thing and go the police with information about Menghi Jr. and other predators, more kids would have been safe and the BSA would be respected, not vilified. Unfortunately, they chose to protect the institution and not the kids.
Read the story here...
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