NJ- Lawsuit against predator priest settled, SNAP responds
For immediate release: Friday, October 3, 2014
Statement by Mark Crawford of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (732-632-7687, [email protected])
A lawsuit against a suspended priest with multiple allegations of child sexual abuse has been settled. We are grateful to the brave victims who fought for justice and accountability and hope he finds healing from this ruling.
Terence McAlinden was first placed on leave in 2007 after the diocese of Trenton learned about an investigation of child sexual abuse. This was allegedly the first time the diocese learned about allegations against Fr. McAlinden. However in 2011 another man came forward and said that he told the diocese about McAlinden in 1989 and settled with the diocese in 1992. And now they have settled with another victim.
The Diocese of Trenton knew McAlinden was a danger, but chose to ignore the warnings. It was nothing more than a savvy business move. Instead of doing the right thing church officials chose to avoid embarrassment and protect a predator. This settlement is damage control pure and simple.
If this settlement were any real sign of change, why hasn’t the bishop come out and apologized to each of all the other victims which have recently come forward in his diocese? Why hasn’t he posted the names and whereabouts of all the credibly accused on the diocesan website, so other families can be protected?
We hope others who may have seen, suspect, or suffered child sex crimes in the diocese of Trenton, by McAlinden or any other church official, will find the courage to speak up, expose predators and those who cover it up, and start healing.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])
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
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