News Story of the Day
Port Arthur priest placed on leave pending investigation by police and Child Protective Services
Dec 16, 2015, 12NewsNow.com
Father David Placette, who's the pastor of St. Catherine Church, is being investigated by Port Arthur police and Child Protective Services, following an allegation made against him.
The Diocese of Beaumont confirmed this in a statement.
How Jehovah’s Witness leaders are responding to child abuse scrutiny
By Trey Bundy / December 14, 2015, Reveal, the Center for Investigative Reporting
Besieged by reports that Jehovah’s Witnesses shield child sexual abusers from prosecution, the religion’s top leadership appears to have settled on a strategy: “Let the story die.”
A Portuguese news documentary released in October was yet another report from across the globe to detail the Witnesses’ policy of not reporting child abusers to law enforcement. As in other media reports, top officials refused to speak to the journalists who produced it.
NJ a safe haven for sexual predators until legislation passes
By Jersey Journal Guest Columnist, on December 11, 2015, NJ.com
The critically acclaimed movie "Spotlight," currently in theaters, is a compelling real life look at the cover up of heinous acts by priests against children in Massachusetts that was unearthed by the Boston Globe. It is a powerful story about the active efforts to hide the truth as well as the harm done to innocent victims. It is time that the spotlight be put on New Jersey.
Victims left reeling from shock Pell decision
Dec. 11, 2015, The Courier (Australia)
CLERGY sex abuse survivors have been left reeling by news Cardinal George Pell will not be appearing at the child sex abuse inquiry next week. Victim and nephew of disgraced priest Gerard Ridsdale said the lives of survivors had been thrown into turmoil again.
He called for Cardinal Pell to “come and face the music” like the survivors have been forced to do for years.
Cops: Pastor charged in ‘super felony’ sex assault may have hurt others
By Philip Jankowski - American-Statesman Staff, December 8, 2015
Round Rock police officers arrested an East Austin pastor accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage parishioner.
Henry Lee McGee Sr., 68, is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child after the victim told authorities of numerous sexual encounters with the pastor of First Baptist Church, 4805 Heflin Lane in East Austin. The abuse lasted more than a year, according to an arrest affidavit.
San Diego priest who covered up sex assault placed in charge of sex abuse hotline
TOM BOGGIONI, 07 DEC 2015, Raw Story
A group representing victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests has blasted the San Diego Catholic Diocese for appointing a priest who admitted to destroying documents detailing sexual assaults to oversee their sex abuse hotline.
Likening him to “an admitted embezzler [who] shouldn’t oversee bank accounts,” Melanie Sakoda of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) said Fr. Steven Callahan shouldn’t be allowed to “oversee abuse reports.”
Bishop accused of protecting paedophile priests refuses to appear at inquiry
Bishop Ronald Mulkearns is set to again evade questioning over his role as an alleged protector of paedophile priests, with the former Ballarat Bishop expected to shun a royal commission hearing despite being compelled to appear as a witness.
The testimony of Bishop Mulkearns, and the second grilling of Cardinal George Pell, shaped as a crucial piece of the final weeks of the commission's hearings into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.
Accuser of sex abuse at Aurora church drops anonymity
Susan Sarkauskas, 11/30/2015, Daily Herald
Members of two groups critical of the Catholic Church's handling of sexual abuse by priests are calling for parishioners to withhold financial donations to an Aurora church.
And the man who sued that church, St. Rita of Cascia, under the name "John Doe" has revealed his identity. He is John Plaschke, who now lives in Maryland, and said he revealed himself to encourage other possible victims to come forward.
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