February 13, 2025
For Immediate Release: February 13, 2025
Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark said on Monday that he had hired a law firm to conduct a “comprehensive third-party review” of a 2019 investigation into sexual abuse at Seton Hall University. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, calls the new investigation unnecessary. The group believes that it is nothing more than a tactic to delay the resolution of the issue of Monsignor Joseph Reilly’s appointment as President of Seton Hall. SNAP spoke out against the Monsignor’s appointment at the time, and asked for complete transparency. We still believe that this is the best way to resolve the controversy.
Although Monsignor Reilly was not himself accused of abuse, the 2019 investigation found that he knew about accusations of abuse on campus and did not report them as required. In reaction to the probe's findings, a "Responsive Action Plan" was developed, and a special task force was formed to carry out disciplinary actions. The task force recommended the Monsignor's removal from Seton Hall boards and leadership. The priest left the Board of Trustees and then stepped down as dean of the seminary. Less than three years after Monsignor Reilly was quietly sidelined, he was restored to active service, culminating in his elevation to the powerful position of University president.
New Jersey SNAP Leader, Mark Crawford wonders, “Why would we need an investigation of the original investigation? Why would anyone believe this isn’t a cover up of the cover up? Cardinal Tobin simply needs to release the original report to the public. Who would trust a report on the report?”
February 06, 2025
Victims upset that the franchise helped Catholic officials
They charge that the Saints' conduct was detrimental to survivors
The nation's leading support group for clergy sexual abuse victims says that top officials with the New Orleans Saints flaunted National Football League (NFL) goals by working with Catholic officials to hide predators, thus endangering children and further wounding abuse victims. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) wants the NFL to open an investigation into the Saint's actions.
The Saints are accused of colluding with the Archdiocese of New Orleans to modify the Archbishop’s list of abusers, pressure elected officials to turn a blind eye to the scandal, and to influence public opinion by putting pressure on media outlets to curtail their coverage. Drawn into this web of deceit are judges, lawyers and the ultra-rich. SNAP issued an earlier statement on the recent revelations about the disturbing involvement of the Saints in the Archdiocesan crisis.
Louisiana SNAP leader, Letitia Peyton, says in response to the news coverage, "The New Orleans Saints, the Catholic Church, and every institution wielding influence over our communities must do more than protect their own reputations. Prioritizing PR over survivors perpetuates harm."
In contrast, in response to the same media reports, NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, called the New Orleans Saints a "great corporate citizen."
February 05, 2025
For Immediate Release: February 5, 2025
According to a new report, at least 17 former or current staff members at the Kansas City-based International House of Prayer (IHOP) including founder Mike Bickle, are accused of sexual crimes and misdeeds. For the safety of the public, we hope that the additional 16 names are soon made public as well.
We also hope that a similar investigation into accusations at an orphanage run by a Union MO-based non-profit, Ninos de Mexico, due out later this year, will be even more thorough and detailed than the IHOP probe.
The scathing report on IHOP describes “a longstanding culture of systemic abuse and cover-up” within the community that apparently goes much deeper than just the wrongdoing of a few officials at the top.
We hope that law enforcement officials, in Missouri and elsewhere, will digest and circulate the information in this report. We hope they will use every means possible to beg others with knowledge or suspicions of similar crimes and cover-ups to come forward, so that at least a few of these accused abusers may face justice in court.
We also applaud the courage of Deborah Perkins, Tammy Woods, Terry Hartley, the Jane and John Does, and each person who found the strength and courage to report the horrors they endured. Society owes them a debt of gratitude and they deserve to be praised and thanked for their bravery and compassion.
We also hope that a similar investigation into accusations of crimes at an orphanage run by the Union MO-based Ninos de Mexico, due out later this year, will be even more thorough and detailed than the IHOP probe.
February 03, 2025
For Immediate Release: February 3, 2025
On January 31, 2025, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the state's civil window for survivors of child sexual abuse. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is grateful that the state’s highest court upheld the SAFE Child Act. However, we cannot help but wonder how many victims were discouraged from filing lawsuits when the constitutionality of the law was challenged.
The SAFE Child Act was unanimously adopted by state legislators on October 31, 2019. It allowed victims of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits in 2020 and 2021 against their perpetrators and the organizations who employed them. Years of work by many went into this law. Then Attorney General Josh Stein has stated that were it not for the testimony of North Carolina SNAP Leader Charles Bailey, the measure would not have passed.
Charles says in response to this decision, “My wife Sue and I attended the Supreme Court hearing on whether or not to uphold this law. It is so important to all involved that we can now move forward. The only way to eradicate this evil and crime is to expose those responsible and hold them accountable. Many thanks to the Supreme Court of North Carolina!“
January 17, 2025
For Immediate Release: January 18, 2025
After four years of bankruptcy proceedings, the Diocese of Rockville Centre has agreed to settle the claims brought by 600 survivors of child sexual for approximately $323 million. Payments should begin later this year. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, hopes that this process will bring some measure of healing to those who will receive compensation for the life-altering crimes they experienced.
PJ D'Amico, who is among those scheduled to receive restitution, noted the Diocese’s agreement to settle was " more like 'uncle' than 'do the right thing.'" Sadly, we cannot help but agree. As attorney Jeff Anderson observed, “Some survivors waiting on a settlement died before the case was resolved.”
In addition, there are many victims who have not come forward, and now will never be able to do so. One of the downsides of bankruptcy is that survivors who either do not remember their abuse or who are not ready to come forward by the bankruptcy bar date, but whose ordeals occurred before the bankruptcy was filed, are forever barred from filing a civil claim for damages.
Of course, this is one of the attractions for Catholic Dioceses facing countless claims from those who were harmed because Church officials chose to protect predators instead of children. We hope that someday the federal law will be amended to ban this tactic being used by those who enable child sexual abuse.