News Story of the Day
Priest sex abuse victim angered by lack of recourse: 'None of them are registered sex offenders'
By Ivey DeJesus, [email protected], July 09, 2016, PennLive
Shaun Dougherty's story begins on page 66 of the grand jury report into widespread child sexual abuse in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese.
That page - one of 147 pages in the report detailing accusations against more than 50 religious leaders, priests and teachers - begins the account into the investigation of George Koharchik, a longtime priest, who among other diocesan assignments, was pastor at St. Clement Church in Johnstown for a decade.
Lenexa church opposes young sex crime victims remaining anonymous in civil lawsuit
BY LAURA BAUER, [email protected], July 7, 2016, KC Star
Two girls and their guardian sued Westside Family Church, saying it knowingly let teen sex offender be around kids
The victims’ attorney filed a motion to keep the girls’ identities secret during the civil lawsuit
The church’s attorney opposed that motion and said the case should be dismissed and refiled
Fugitive molester accused of sexually abusing teen while on the run
By Mark Mueller and Enrique Lavin, NJ Advance Media, For NJ.com, July 05, 2016
An evangelical preacher wanted by authorities in New Jersey for molesting a teenage boy and for allegedly abusing three other young men has been accused by a parishioner of groping a teen in Nicaragua, where the fugitive had been in hiding, according to church officials there.
Gregorio Martinez, whose flight from justice was profiled in a special report by NJ Advance Media in May, allegedly groped a 15-year-old boy in Estelí, Nicaragua, earlier this year, said Pedro Matamoros, the pastor of the church where Martinez lived for about seven months.
Sioux City Diocese asks for information on children victimized by deceased priest
IAN RICHARDSON, [email protected], July 3, 2016 Sioux City Journal
SIOUX CITY | After more than 55 years, a new sexual abuse allegation is casting a shadow on the career of a now-deceased priest who served in the Sioux City Diocese during the 1960s.
The Rev. Peter Murphy, who served at eight parishes throughout Northwestern Iowa in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, has been accused of raping and sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy while he was a temporary assistant at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sioux City in 1960.
Sex abuse group to Jeff church: 'Shame on them'
A priest sex abuse victims group has criticized Jeffersonville church officials for requesting prayers for an accused child molester instead of his potential victims.
David Clohessy, director the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, released a statement calling First Christian Church’s actions “stunningly callous.”
Pennsylvania Senate committee reveals its twisted priorities
Bill White, Contact Reporter, June 29, 2016, The Morning Call
Pennsylvania House Bill 1947 stripped of retroactive access for victims
Piorities are important, for people and for politicians.
Most members of the state Senate Judiciary Committee made their priorities clear Tuesday. They concluded that it was more important to protect the financial resources of the Catholic Church and insurance industry than to offer justice to more victims of child sex abuse, to unmask predators to protect future children and to punish institutions that have aided and abetted in child abuse.
Editorial: In support of Bill 326
The Guam Daily Post, Post News Staff June 28, 2016
We join those in the community who support Bill 326 which proposes to eliminate the statute of limitations for civil cases involving child sex abuse. We continue to see child molestation as a particularly heinous crime with traumatic, long-term emotional impact.
Philadelphia Archdiocese Campaigns Against Abuse Victims' Recourse Bill
June 21, 2016, NPR, KQED Public Radio
The bill would give sexual abuse victims more time to sue abusers. David Greene talks to state Rep. Nick Miccarelli, who voted for the legislation; then found out his parish wasn't happy about it.
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
There's a piece of legislation in Pennsylvania that is giving the Catholic Church fits. It passed the state House. There's a vote expected now in the Senate. This legislation would give victims of sexual abuse more time to sue their abusers. This is an issue that has personal resonance for State Representative Nick Miccarelli, who voted for it.
Priest abuse victim speaks out
At just 12 years old, Tim Lennon says he was raped by Father Peter Murphey after the priest joined the Blessed Sacrament parish in 1960.
"That sadness, or depression, anger, they don't leave," said Lennon.
Lennon, who's lived in California for years, was one of 12 in an Irish-Catholic family. His sister Cathy Frisch who lives in Dakota Dunes, says there was always something "different" about her brother compared to other kids.
Applauding local religious leaders for acknowledging 'a great sin'
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The LNP Editorial Board, June 20, 2016, Lancaster Online
THE ISSUE
Earlier this month, Lancaster County religious leaders from a mix of Christian denominations added their names to a letter to the state Senate Judiciary Committee. They urged quick passage in the Senate of House Bill 1947, which was approved overwhelmingly in the state House in April. The bill would abolish the statute of limitations for future criminal cases of child sexual abuse, and extend by 20 years the time for victims to bring civil suits against their assailants and an agency whose negligence enabled the abuse.
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