News Story of the Day
Kansas City diocese agrees to settle 30 lawsuits for $10 million
By Judy L. Thomas of the Kansas City Star
October 14, 2014
The Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph on Tuesday agreed to pay nearly $10 million to settle 30 lawsuits that alleged sexual abuse by priests.
That action came on the eve of jury deliberations after an 11-day trial in a case filed by a former altar boy.
SNAP Hands Out Leaflets On Investigation Into Pastor Outside St. Alphonsus
By Nancy Harty
October 12, 2014
(CBS) — Priest sex abuse survivors leafleted outside a Catholic church on Chicago’s North Side Sunday to draw attention to an ongoing investigation, reports WBBM’s Nancy Harty.
Trial date approaches for Ursuline sisters
A courtroom in Helena, Mont., could be the scene of a rare occurrence in the decades-long crisis of sex abuse in the Catholic church: Roman Catholic women religious as defendants.
Child sex abuse victims face hurdles seeking redress in court
To many survivors of childhood molestation in Japan, seeking retribution from their abusers has been unimaginably difficult.
The Orthodox Sex Abuse Crackdown That Wasn’t
By Emily Shire
October 7, 2014
Brooklyn DA Kenneth Thompson ran on the promise that he’d clean up the office’s problems with prosecuting ultra-Orthodox sex offenders who preyed on children—but so far he appears just as lax as his predecessor.
National group blasts Syracuse diocese over child-molesting allegations against monsignor
By John O'Brien
October 2, 2014
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A national victims' advocacy organization today criticized the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse over its handling of a child-molesting accusation against a monsignor.
Vatican trial for abuse suspect undercuts zero-tolerance goal
Boston Globe Editorial
October 3, 2014
POPE FRANCIS sounds genuinely contrite for the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy, and he has promised that those responsible will be called to account . Yet as an institution, the church still seems stuck in the habit of protecting clergy members from secular criminal justice systems.
Diocese knew about abuse by KC priest but did nothing, witnesses tell jury Read more here
By Judy Thomas
October 1, 2014
A well-known public relations consultant, a Catholic nun and a former school board vice president told a Jackson County jury Wednesday that they had reported sexual abuse concerns involving Monsignor Thomas O’Brien to the diocese over a span of decades, but nothing was ever done.
KC Diocese trial extends culture of silence about abuse
By Mary Sanchez
October 1, 2014
The culture of silence continues. It’s hovering in a courtroom in Independence this week like a blanket threatening to smother.
Pope Francis and Sex Abuse: Time for Another* Reality Check
By Betty Clermont
September 26, 2014
“Pope sacks Paraguay bishop accused of protecting abuser priest” or some similar headline was carried by newspapers and news agencies around the world yesterday, unanimously praising Pope Francis for “taking action” against a prelate for harboring a clerical sex abuser. Since such notorious guardians of offending priests as Twin Cities Archbishop Niensted, Kansas City Bishop Finn and Newark Archbishop Myers are still in place although petitions have been sent to the pope for their removal, and just about every hierarch appointed or promoted in the U.S. by Pope Francis has a dismal record in this regard, accurate headlines would have stated the real reason this bishop was “sacked.”
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