News Story of the Day
Did Some Nuns, Teachers Know Of Child Sex Abuse In Baltimore Catholic Schools?
By Denise Koch, March 5, 2018, CBS Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — For some time now, WJZ has been investigating a dirty secret: child sex abuse at the hands of priests, police and a teacher back in the 1960s and 1970s. Many asked how it was possible that no one noticed.
The rapist of 13-year-old at church camp got no prison time. Now, thousands want the judge removed.
By Meagan Flynn, March 5, 2018, Washington Post
Benjamin Lawrence Petty was a cook at the church camp where a 13-year-old girl reported that he tied her up and raped her.
Retired priest admits to sexually abusing boys
By WGRZ, February 28, 2018
BUFFALO, NY - A retired priest from Western New York has admitted to The Buffalo News that he sexually abused dozens of boys.
Reverend Norbert Orsolits told the paper the sexual encounters with teenage boys occurred during the 1970s and '80s.
Survivors, politicians propose sexual abuse reporting laws in Michigan
By Dan Murphy, February 26, 2018, ESPN
LANSING, Mich. -- The women who spoke up to help put convicted sexual predator Larry Nassar in prison are speaking again, this time in support of changes to Michigan laws that would make it easier to hold his enablers and future would-be abusers accountable.
N.J. priest reassigned after sex abuse allegations surface from time as Staten Island teacher in 1980s
By Paul Liotta, February 26, 2018, SILive
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A New Jersey priest, who worked in Staten Island schools for more than 20 years as a layman, was put on a leave of absence Sunday after sexual abuse allegations connected to his time in the borough surfaced.
South Korea church apologizes for abuse
By Agence France-Presse, February 25, 2018, Hurriyet Daily News
South Korea’s Catholic church on Feb. 25 apologized to a woman who accused a priest of sexual abuse and attempted rape during a trip to a mission in South Sudan.
Kim Min-Kyung took the rare step of appearing on television news last week to accuse the priest of sexually abusing her during their trip to the country in 2011.
Kim, a volunteer who helped build a school and medical clinics in South Sudan, said the priest repeatedly tried to rape her, at one point breaking into her room at night. “He pinned me down so that I couldn’t move and said ‘I can’t control my body anymore. Please understand me,’” Kim told KBS TV station, saying she managed to flee the room.
Six Oregon men file suit against Albany First Assembly church for sex abuse
Feb 24, 2018
Six Oregon men filed a lawsuit Friday against the Albany First Assembly church, and the state and national organizations that operate the church, for sexual abuse they say they suffered as children in the 1980s, according to the Portland law firm representing the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit alleges that the church and its governing organizations failed to investigate and forward to police reports that a youth leader in the church had sexually abused a boy. Two leaders of a church youth program were later criminally convicted for sexually abusing several boys.
Rabbi skips town after charges laid for multiple sex offences: Winnipeg police
By Kristin Annable, CBC News, Feb 20, 2018
A warrant for Rabbi Yacov Simmonds's arrest was issued in October
A rabbi well known in Winnipeg's Jewish community has been on the lam since October after being charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching, CBC News has learned.
Police believe that Rabbi Yacov Simmonds, 42, has been hiding out somewhere in the United States after a warrant was issued for his arrest on three counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference and two counts of invitation to sexual touching.
Former papal adviser says Francis needs to make sex abuse a priority
By Claire Giangravè, February 22, 2018, Crux
ROME - A former member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has charged that Pope Francis is not making the fight against sexual abuse a priority, and expressed her frustration with the procedures and limitations of the group, which she said led her to hand in her resignation last year.
Iowa priest suspended after allegation of 'unwelcome advances,' diocese says
By Luke Nozicka, February 20, 2018, De Moines Register
A Council Bluffs priest was suspended Tuesday after an allegation of unwelcome advances, the diocese said.
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