SNAP applauds as the first lawsuits are filed under a new Louisiana law giving survivors of child sexual abuse a pathway to the justice they deserve
HB 492 only went into effect on August 1, 2021, and already two men sexually abused as children have taken advantage of this “window to justice.” We hope that others will also seize this opportunity to hold those who abuse boys and girls, as well as those who enable that abuse, accountable.
One of the lawsuits was filed in federal court against the Brothers of the Holy Cross Schools by John Lousteau, who says he was sexually abused by a clergy member employed at the school when John was in residence there. The complaint says that John attempted to obtain restitution from the order last year, but after telling him that they believed him, the Brothers ignored him, betraying John a second time.
The other lawsuit was filed in Orleans Parish state court by Richard Lane Woolley. The complaint accuses Father Valerie Pullman of abusing Richard while the cleric worked as a priest at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Arthur. The clergyman was also Richard's elementary school religion teacher at St. Maria Goretti Catholic School. The lawsuit says that Richard was only 12 years old at the time of the abuse.
We are elated at the opening of this window legislation in Louisiana, and we hope that these two brave men will receive the compensation they deserve for the pain they have carried alone for so long. We also encourage any other victims who have been time-barred from justice in Louisiana to come forward and get the help they need. At the same time, we know how difficult it can be to revisit the past, so we offer our network as a resource for those individuals navigating this difficult chapter in their lives.
CONTACT: Russ Hebron, SNAP Leader Louisiana (504-330-1067, [email protected]) Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager (267-261-0578, [email protected]), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(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
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