On April 10, 2014 — seven months into the clergy sex abuse scandal — Archbishop John Nienstedt's top advisers gathered for a private meeting. They had just received several affidavits from an internal investigation of Nienstedt that had been authorized by the archbishop himself to address damaging rumors.
News Story of the Day
Priest sex abuse allegations lead to AG search of monastery
By Andrew Conte and Brad Bumsted, Thursday, June 25, 2015, 3:24 p.m., Trib Live
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office on Thursday searched the grounds of St. Bernadine Monastery near this Blair County borough, where a Franciscan brother accused of molesting children killed himself two years ago.
Five Eye-Openers From the Trial of Former Richmond Pastor Geronimo Aguilar
by Kerri O'Brien, June 23, 2015, Style Weekly
Former Richmond megachurch pastor Geronimo Aguilar, lauded for founding and leading the Richmond Outreach Center, is on trial this week in Fort Worth, Texas, accused of assaulting two underage girls.
Fairbanks Priest Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Child Sex Crimes
June 22, 2015, Monday PM, Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews
Clint Michael Landry, 58, of Fairbanks, Alaska, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline to 10 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime period of supervised release for Attempted Enticement of a Minor. At the time of the offense, the Landry was employed as a priest with the Catholic Diocese in Fairbanks, Alaska. He had been in that position since June 2011.
Historical Abuse Inquiry: Fr Brendan Smyth 'could have abused hundreds of children'
June 22, 2015, BBC News
A public inquiry has been told that a paedophile priest admitted he may have sexually abused hundreds of children.
Northern Ireland's Historical Abuse Inquiry has begun an examination on the activities of Fr Brendan Smyth.
An isolated Nienstedt tried to limit investigation into himself
Madeleine Baran · Jun 19, 2015 MPR News
Chris Churchill: Church leaders failed to protect the powerless
Retired Archbishop Harry Flynn was supposed to be sunshine amid the dark clouds of the pedophile priest scandal.
Vatican abuse tribunal has much work to do
THOMAS FARRAGHER, Boston Globe, June 16, 2015
Even for an institution that measures its history in centuries, not decades, the Vatican’s move toward sanctions against bishops who cover up for pedophile priests seems glacial.
Pope Warns Bishops to Deal with Accused Priests
Kevin Killeen (@KMOXKilleen), June 10, 2015 4:46 PM, KMOX
ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – U.S. Catholic Bishops meeting in St. Louis are accused by a survivors group of failing to live up to the promises made to protect children at the Dallas Conference of Bishops in 2002.
Pope Creates Tribunal for Bishop Negligence in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
JUNE 10, 2015, NY Times
ROME — Roman Catholic bishops accused of covering up or failing to prevent the sexual abuse of children by priests will now be subject to judgment and discipline by a new Vatican tribunal, according to a plan approved on Wednesday by Pope Francis.
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