Priest Critical of Catholic Church’s Handling of Sex Abuse Remains Defiant, SNAP Stands in Support of Fr. Mark White
Despite being a popular pastor who heads two parishes in the Diocese of Richmond, Fr. Mark White has been ordered by the Vatican and his Bishop, Barry Knestout, to cease writing his personal blog if he wants to remain a priest. Still, Fr. White is choosing to stand by his principles and beliefs rather than bow to pressure from Catholic officials. We applaud his bravery and stand with him as he speaks out for what is right.
This case is a painful reminder that concerned Catholics need to set up their own, independent whistleblower funds to support brave witnesses and whistleblowers who are hurt by the hierarchy. It is clear to us that, despite the Vatican’s recently created whistleblower policy, church officials are still willing to tamp down on any dissent or disobedience.
Fr. White’s situation makes it plain that, if you are a priest you can’t speak out against the Catholic Church or their policies without being silenced. Now, think about how this punishment translates to a cleric who would report their bishop or another clergyman who is abusing children or covering up that abuse? To us, the message is clear: silence is golden.
This is exactly the opposite of what Catholic hierarchs have been talking about for years, but actions speak louder than words. By punishing Fr. White and removing him from his positions. Bishop Knestout shows that he cares more about obeying orders than he does about doing the right thing. We worry about what this means for victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers in the Diocese of Richmond.
Now that Fr. White has lost his appeal, we hope that his flock will pick up where he was forced to stop: taking steps to end the silence, promote safety, and bring healing.
CONTACT: Becky Ianni, SNAP Virginia Leader ([email protected], 703-801-6044), Dottie Klammer, SNAP Richmond ([email protected], 804-347-9974), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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