SC- Bob Jones victims should call police, group says
For immediate release: Friday, February 14, 2014
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])
We are glad talks are resuming between Bob Jones University officials and GRACE, the non-profit that is looking at sex crimes at the school.
However sexual crimes should be reported to law enforcement by anyone who sees, suspects or suffers them. To most victims this is a frightening prospect but if innocent kids and vulnerable adults are to be protected victims must somehow find the strength, courage and wisdom to call secular officials not religious officials.
None of this would be happening, if not for the real heroes who have already spoken up and refused to accept excuses and evasions from Bob Jones officials. It may take years, but we believe these extraordinarily brave men and women will someday be recognized by university staff, student and alums as the responsible caring pioneers that they are.
We commend each one of them: victims, witnesses and whistleblowers. Regardless of whether this report is ever finalized and released law enforcement officials must be contacted and step up.
(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 15,000 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 (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747,[email protected]), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [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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Even those who were from Greenville and attended Bob Jones Academy who have reported their crimes to the Greenville County Sheriff report few see justice by the Greenville, SC Solicitors office. Does Bob Jones University get preferential treatment by the Greenville, SC Solicitors office? One has to wonder, since there are not a SOL on these crimes in SC and BJU seems to so few of those even reported by survivors make it to prosecution.