News Story of the Day

"We stand with our allies at The Army of Survivors and join them in calling for an investigation by the Department of Justice into the mishandling of abuse allegations by former USA gymnastics physician Larry Nassar," says Zach Hiner, Executive Director for SNAP. 

(Full Statement from The Army of Survivors below)

Content warning: Mention of abusers’ names and sexual violence.

Okemos, Michigan (July 14, 2021) — Following initial review of Wednesday’s report from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) on its investigation into the FBI’s handling of allegations of sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics phycisian Larry Nassar, The Army of Survivors has issued the following statement:

The Army of Survivors shares our support, care and concern for the many survivors who were today once again reminded of the trauma they experienced by former USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar. Our organization was founded by a group of more than 40 survivors of sexual violence, some of whom were impacted by Nassar as young athletes.

MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) - The Wisconsin Department of Justice says it has received more than 100 reports of abuse by clergy and faith leaders since opening a statewide inquiry in April.

A Catholic priest has been found guilty of numerous historical abuse charges including three counts of having homosexual sex with young boys.

The federal New Democrats are calling on Ottawa to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate potential crimes committed against Indigenous people at residential schools, and their alleged perpetrators.

A sprawling retirement house used by former Newark Archbishop John J. Myers — that drew protests from some parishioners for being too lavish for a Catholic priest — has been sold, church officials said.

'It’s a very important chapter in our history that needs to be addressed. You just can’t sweep it under the rug and forget about it'

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville has settled an abuse lawsuit against "one of the most respected priests in the diocese" who was accused of sexually exploiting an adult woman he converted to the Catholic faith in 2000.

In the lawsuit, Celeste Arnone accused the Rev. Michael Sweeney of sexual assault and exploitation, severe psychological distress, defamation, the loss of faith in God and the loss of her marriage. She also accused the diocese of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress for its handling of her allegations after they were first reported.

"I hope my case will help survivors to, first of all, realize that this is not your fault, even if you might think it is, and it may take years to realize what actually did happen to you," Arnone said in a statement to the Times Free Press.

Patrick Sanders insists he is innocent, saying, “I feel an injustice has been done to me and my life’s vocation has been taken away.”

NEW ORLEANS — A former New Orleans-area priest who was removed from the ministry over credible allegations of child sex abuse before becoming a successful personal injury attorney recently surrendered his law license forever because he hid his scandalous past from bar exam administrators.

By Randy Evans - The Bloomfield Democrat June 29. 2021

Talk about lousy timing.

The biggest religion story in Iowa last week was a jaw-dropper. Attorney General Tom Miller announced he has concluded a three-year investigation of sexual abuse allegations against priests in the four Roman Catholic dioceses in our state.

As church membership continues to decline nationwide and scandal upon scandal is visited upon the doors of diocesan headquarters across the country, America’s Roman Catholic bishops have decided that now is the time to take a stand by denying President Biden communion. In doing so, they find themselves on the shakiest of ground.