News Story of the Day
Archdiocese made ‘astonishing’ claim in concealing Seattle priest’s sexual offenses, review board says
By Joel Connelly
May 12, 2014
The Archdiocese of Seattle failed to inform Catholic faithful, and made an “astonishing” claim and “serious misstatements” in seeking to explain why a priest suspended from ministry for sexual misconduct with a teenager went on saying mass and conducting weddings, say former leaders of a diocesan review board.
U.N. Panel Could Find Vatican Guilty Of Torture
By Sylvia Poggioli
May 11, 2014
This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Rachel Martin. The Vatican got a grilling this past week for its handling of the clerical sex abuse scandal. The setting - a United Nations hearing in Geneva. Meanwhile in Rome, a new advisory board to Pope Francis held its first meeting on the sex abuse crisis.
Four religious brothers accused of sexual abuse at North Catholic decades ago
By Peter Smith
May 7, 2014
What started as a criminal case half a world away has triggered a cascading set of new and newly rediscovered allegations of sexual abuse against five religious brothers who worked at North Catholic High School in Troy Hill decades ago.
Vatican’s envoy accuses Irish government of mishandling compensation
By Paddy Agnew
May 7, 2014
In what may have been a moment of confusion, the Vatican’s permanent representative at the UN in Geneva yesterday accused the Government of “mishandling” money paid by way of compensation to Magdalene laundries victims.
Listen to the livestream from Geneva!
For the second time this year Vatican officials are being investigated by another committee at the United Nations. Two events will be carried live on the internet tomorrow, Tuesday May 6th. One includes SNAP leaders from different countries and our attorneys from the Center for Constitutional Rights. The other is actual proceedings from the UN headquarters in Geneva.
SNAP and The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) are attending the proceedings and will report back to survivors, advocates, and supporters via livestream. Tune in to our report-back on Tuesday, May 6, at 8:30 pm CET (2:30 pm EST).
You can follow the global conversation about this historic hearing on Twitter using the hashtag #VaticanAccountability and ask questions before or during the report-back by tweeting to the hashtag or emailing your questions to [email protected]. We will answer as many as possible during the livestream.
The hearings will be streamed live here. From 3 pm-6 pm CET (9 am-12 pm EST) on Tuesday, May 6th, the Vatican will respond to the Committee’s questions. The broadcasts will be in English.
For more information on our efforts to hold the Vatican accountable see the CCR webpage and factsheet, as well our submitted reports to the Committee, detailing how the Vatican has violated the core principles of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment, which it ratified in 2002.
At UN, Vatican sex abuse compared with torture
May 5, 2014
Chilean cardinals close to pope stained by abuse cover-ups
By Jason Berry
April 29, 2014
Home today is an apartment in Society Hill, Philadelphia, but when Juan Carlos Cruz was growing up in Chile in the 1980s, his family lived close to El Bosque, "the forest" -- a tree-draped park avenue and a prime neighborhood in Santiago, the capital city. It was also home to a charismatic pastor, Fr. Fernando Karadima, surrounded by well-dressed boys from top schools, and later unmasked as a sexual predator.
UN Committee Against Torture to Review the Vatican
By Prensa Latina
April 29, 2014
United Nations, Apr 28 (Prensa Latina) Next month the United Nations Committee against Torture will review the Vatican for the first time, in public sessions that will include talks with delegations with the Holy See and civil society, said today the United Nations from its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Fr. Michael O'Connell parishioners react to new sexual abuse investigation
By Terrell Brown
April 27, 2014
April 27, 2014 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Parishioners of a church in Chicago's Lakeview community are reacting as a new sexual abuse investigation is launched into their pastor, Father Michael O'Connell.
Video: Former church official disputes archbishop's clergy abuse testimony
The Rev. Kevin McDonough answered questions about his involvement in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis' handling of clergy sexual abuse during an April 16, 2014, deposition. The questioning comes as part of a lawsuit brought by a man who says he was sexually abused by the Rev. Thomas Adamson in the 1970s. Video courtesy of Jeff Anderson and Associates
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