SNAP Legal Action

For immediate release: June 13, 2025

Cindy Clemishire, who accused Robert Morris of child sexual abuse, and her father have filed a lawsuit against the former pastor, his wife and several current and former Gateway church leaders. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, believes that their action will help to protect today's and future children. We stand with Cindy and her father in their fight for justice and accountability. 

To us, the fact that Cindy’s father is part of this lawsuit highlights an important element of the sexual abuse of children by religious leaders that is often overlooked: the entire family is harmed, not just the victim. We hope that the elder Clemishire gains a measure of healing by participating in this process.

For immediate release: June 10, 2025

SF Gate reported today that a former longtime teacher at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School filed a lawsuit last week accusing the school of firing him for reporting another teacher’s "alleged sexual misconduct." SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is very disturbed by the claims in the complaint.

Ted Curry worked in the drama department at St. Ignatius from 2000 until his termination on February 11^th. The lawsuit claims that the school retaliated against Mr. Curry because his 2006 report on another drama teacher, Peter Devine, revealed that the school had “covered up” the accusation.

Mr. Curry’s 2006 report resurfaced when a former St. Ignatius student accused Mr. Devine of sexually abusing him in 1996. During the school’s internal investigation into that accusation, Mr. Curry informed the investigator about his report. 

Following this disclosure, the suit claims St. Ignatius began to retaliate against Mr. Curry “almost immediately.” The student accusing Mr. Devine of sexual abuse in 1996 subsequently filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court in 2023. Mr. Curry is expected to testify in the trial on Sept. 9th. 

For immediate release: June 6, 2025

The head of a Kansas City Kansas Catholic school has been suspended because of "recent reports" questioning his ability to "oversee a safe environment" for kids.

To SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, it seems pathetic that Catholic officials continue to be so secretive about Phil Baniewicz, his recent behavior, and the child sex abuse report against him from Arizona.

While his suspension is welcome, in our opinion, he should never have been hired in the first place two years ago.

For Immediate Release: June 2, 2025 

On May 29, 2025, Bishop Michael Martin of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, announced that the Vatican had affirmed his predecessor’s removal of Fr. Patrick Hoare from ministry for “boundary violations with minors.” Fr. Hoare was placed on administrative leave from his position at St. Matthew Parish by Bishop Peter Joseph Jugis in December of 2019. Bishop Martin wrote that he can now appoint a new administrator for the church.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, applauds the Diocese’s decision to remove Fr. Hoare from St. Matthew's while his appeal to Rome was pending. However, we are puzzled why his name still does not appear on Charlotte’s list of “Credibly Accused Clergy.”

We first asked this question back in 2021. It is especially concerning to us that Fr. Hoare continues to post “Daily Reflections with Fr. Pat," featuring a picture of him in clerical garb. We are afraid that this apparent representation of Fr. Hoare as a priest in good standing, rather than one who was removed for  “boundary violations with minors,” may endanger other children. 

For immediate release: May 22, 2025

The survivors' committee in the Archdiocese of San Francisco's bankruptcy yesterday released Claims Data, which pulled information from individual reports filed in the proceeding. According to this data, 71 of the 88 parishes in the Archdiocese (81%) were named in the abuse claims. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, called this and the other revelations from the report  "wrenching," and added, "There was no good news to be had  in this data."

The survivors' group also again emphasized that no archbishop of San Francisco had ever released a list of accused perpetrators. However, by SNAP's count, about 150 people were accused of abuse in the bankruptcy. Adding this information to the data already collected by the group, over 500 perpetrators lived or worked in the Archdiocesan territories of Marin, San Mateo, and San Francisco County. In addition, because the Oakland, Santa Rosa, San Jose, and Stockton dioceses were at one time a part of the Archdiocese, its tentacles reached to state lines and into central California. In all, hundreds of parishes and schools were the locations of abuse. 

SNAP Board Member and Treasurer, Dan McNevin stated, "These abusers truly had absolutely shocking and widespread impact that defied the imagination and that deserved attention from Catholics, secular law enforcement, and the public." Dan went on to add that while 81% of the parishes in the Archdiocese were identified as sites of abuse in this bankruptcy, because so few victims ever come forward, and because SNAP's records show 98% of parishes housed or employed known perpetrators, there is no doubt that nearly every parish in the Archdiocese was the site of crimes against children.

The best legal settlements offer survivors a sense of closure and justice. Unfortunately, the proposed bankruptcy settlement from the Archdiocese of New Orleans offers neither. Survivors have the right to vote “no” on this settlement and force the Archdiocese of New Orleans to come back with a better offer—one that truly reflects the full extent of the harm it has caused to survivors and their families.

ROME, ITALY — The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is dismayed that the recently elected Pope Leo XIV has made no effort to address the ongoing sexual abuse catastrophe in the Catholic Church since his election. Survivors of clergy sexual abuse reached out to the new pope in an open letter released on Thursday, May 8. Thus far, Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican have offered only denials of responsibility for abuse cases that occurred under his authority in prior roles.

Rome, Italy — As white smoke rises, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) extends its acknowledgment to Pope Leo XIV on the gravity of the role he now assumes. With the title comes a grave reckoning.

“We were once the children of the church,” began an open letter released by SNAP earlier this afternoon. “The sex offender in the collar commits two crimes: one against the body, and one against the voice. The grand pageantry around your election reminds us: survivors do not carry the same weight in this world as you do.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2025

ROME, ITALY – Following this morning’s press conference, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has announced the addition of several new cardinal profiles to its  website, www.conclavewatch.org, and the release of a formal letter addressed to Cardinal Mario Grech. The letter updates SNAP’s previously filed March 25, 2025 Vos Estis Lux Mundi report, citing new church documents provided to SNAP via the international abuse survivors' network.

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis, Survivors around the world are mourning what they perceive as the "tragedy" of his papacy—a preventable catastrophe for the children and vulnerable people who were abused during his tenure.

Last month, survivors delivered a final appeal to Pope Francis, warning him against issuing what they describe as a “misleading” papal exhortation on children that fails to mandate binding protections against their abuse under canon law. The letter, drafted by global survivors to be personally delivered by Juan Carlos Cruz — a survivor, papal advisor, and member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors — urged Pope Francis to use his remaining time to implement a true zero-tolerance law that includes independent oversight of bishops.