OR--Victims blast Portland archbishop over Spotlight remarks
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
Shame on Portland’s Catholic archbishop for engaging in self-promotion instead of abuse prevention by posturing about the award-winning film “Spotlight.”
http://katu.com/news/local/pdx-archbishop-responds-to-spotlight-movie-popularity
Archbishop Alexander Sample tried to put the church’s on-going child sex abuse and cover up crisis in the past, calling it “a tragic chapter in the history of the Church in the United States.” That’s disingenuous.
He knows this is still happening. It’s not “history.”
He knows it’s worldwide. It’s not “in the US.”
He knows that apologies are offered after a crisis, not during one.
And he knows that the “efforts the Church has made to create safe environments” are grudging, belated and largely unenforced, adopted largely as public relations moves forced by tremendous public, parishioner and legal pressure.
Semple could have used this opportunity to beg victims to call police, prod legislators to reform predator-friendly laws, urge parents to be careful who they trust with their kids, or remind employees to promptly report abuse suspicions.
He did none of this. Given a chance to help others, he used it to help himself. He could have offered helpful advice. Instead, offered deceptive platitudes.
Let us say now what Sample should be saying often: If you see, suspect or suffer abuse, please speak up. Please seek help from independent sources. Please call police or prosecutors. Please do not call church officials.
We hope every person in Oregon who was hurt by child molesting clerics will do what victims in the film Spotlight did – call law enforcement, civil attorneys, investigative journalists and support groups so that the truth can be exposed and children can be spared.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has 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]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747,[email protected]), Bill Crane (503-836-2152),
PDX Archbishop responds to 'Spotlight' movie popularity
BY JACKIE LABRECQUE, KATU NEWS TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. — "Spotlight," the movie that won best picture at the Oscars, reignited the conversation surrounding the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal, especially among survivors.
The movie depicts how Globe reporters uncovered a network of priests abusing children and systemic cover-up by the Catholic Church.
"This film gave a voice to survivors and this Oscar amplifies that voice, which we hope will become a choir that will resonate all the way to the Vatican," said Michael Sugar, the film's director upon accepting the Oscar Sunday night.
Monday afternoon, the columnist Lucetta Scaraffia, wrote . . .
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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