News Story of the Day
Ex-Corning man settles abuse claim
By Stephen Borgna, [email protected], November 13, 2016, The Evening Tribune
CORNING | A former Corning resident has reached a settlement for sexual abuse he says he received at St. Mary’s Church in Corning in the 1960s.
Thomas Mclaughlin, who lived on West 6th Street at the time and now lives near Wilmington, North Carolina, settled for an undisclosed sum with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester for abuse he allegedly received from former priest John Gormley.
Gormley is no longer affiliated with the church. He left the priesthood in 1971. The Diocese of Rochester confirmed that Gormley was with St. Mary’s Church in Corning from 1962-1965 as an assisting priest.
SNAP to Yakima bishop: Withdraw from bid to lead USCCB's child protection committee
By Nov. 11, 2016, National Catholic Reporter
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests have asked Yakima Bishop Joseph Tyson in a Nov. 10 letter to remove himself from "his race for chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People."
SNAP charged that Tyson had "done virtually nothing to undo the damage" done by past clerical sex abusers in the Yakima diocese and those who shielded them. A diocesan official on Nov. 11 responded that "almost without exception, our people express gratitude for the increased awareness they have gained, information that most are not receiving anywhere else" on sex abuse.
I-Team: Abuse Survivor Slams Cardinal Dolan’s Victim Compensation Plan
When Cardinal Timothy Dolan unveiled a plan to pay settlements to victims of priest sexual abuse, he touted the new victim compensation fund as a way to seek reconciliation with those who have been harmed by the church.
For at least one survivor of priest sexual abuse, the settlement fund has had the opposite effect.
Priest in KCK archdiocese engaged in misconduct with adult, church reveals
BY JUDY L. THOMAS, [email protected], November 9, 2016, Kansas City Star
A Kenyan priest on assignment in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has engaged in unprofessional conduct with an adult, the archdiocese has revealed.
In a statement issued in the Nov. 4 edition of The Leaven, its official newspaper, the archdiocese said it made the finding after completing an internal investigation of the Rev. Anthony Kiplagat, who left the country earlier this year.
Laws removing child sexual abuse limitation periods passed
By Felicity-Caldwell, Brisbane Times, November 8, 2016
Victims of child sexual abuse will be able to pursue civil legal action in Queensland, regardless of when or where it happened, after new laws passed in parliament.
Previously, survivors could only pursue civil action within three years of their 18th birthday.
EXCLUSIVE: Staten Island Catholic orphanage sex abuse victim still feels pain 70 years later
BYMICHAEL O’KEEFFE, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, November 7, 2016
The beating took place 70 years ago, but the pain is still fresh.
When “Don” told the priest who ran St. Michael’s Home for Children on Staten Island that one of his employees had molested him repeatedly over the previous two years, the clergyman gave the boy a lecture about damaging another man’s reputation.
Catholic church apologises for role in 'forced adoptions' over 30-year period
Harriet Sherwood, Religion correspondent, The Guardian, November 2, 2016
The head of the Catholic church in England and Wales has apologised for its part in the” hurt” caused to young unmarried women who say they were felt pressured into handing over their babies for adoption in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols acknowledged the “the grief and pain caused by the giving up of a child through adoption”, adding: “Sadly for unmarried mothers, adoption was considered to be in the best interests of the mother and child because of the associated stigma and the lack of support for lone parents.”
Until church, Legislature deal with this issue, it is still news
By Ken Tingley, November 2, 2016, The Post Star
The handwritten letter was the kind of note you don’t see much anymore.
It was in a nice flowing script and easily readable and had the formality of another era with an introductory “Dear Mr. Tingley.”
It was old school.
So was the content.
The writer told me my column about the Catholic Church’s latest way of dealing with pedophile priests was “old news.”
Editorial: The church has earned our healthy skepticism
By NCR Editorial Staff, Oct. 28, 2016, National Catholic Reporter
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan may have the purest of motives in designing the new compensation program for victims of clergy sex abuse. He must realize, however, that he is working against a history of activity, including his own, of members of the U.S. hierarchy that hardly inspires trust.
Dolan's effort, understandably applauded in some quarters as an act inspired by Pope Francis' Year of Mercy, sets a legal framework for compensating victims outside of court procedures. The process will be administered by respected professionals, by most measures impeccably independent, and the compensation offered will be delivered quickly.
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