New Policies Are Not the Solution that Buffalo Needs
In response to the growing scandal in the Diocese of Buffalo, church officials have rolled out their latest solution – updated policies and procedures for priests who abuse others. We have no faith whatsoever that this latest move will have any real impact in the diocese.
It is laughable that Bishop Richard Malone is touting yet another new, internal, soon-to-be-ignored and virtually-never-to-be enforced abuse policy, this one involving adults.
It is church law - not a mere policy - that priests must be celibate. Yet it is clear that this law has been widely violated, in Buffalo and elsewhere. New policies and updated codes of conduct are not the answers that parishioners and the public in Buffalo need. It is time for solutions to come from outside the church hierarchy, instead of inside.
A real solution would be if more state legislatures made clergy sexual assaults on and misconduct with adults illegal. A real solution would be if more state lawmakers passed tough RICO laws to pursue those who ignore or enable clergy sex crimes against children and adults.
We just cannot get enthusiastic about yet another internal staff policy that is very likely to have no impact whatsoever in real life.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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