SNAP Responds to Bishop Zubik's Pastoral Letter
Pittsburgh's top Catholic official has penned a letter laying out a five point plan to end the clergy abuse crisis, demonstrate transparency to the community, and support survivors.
We are grateful every time that church officials take steps towards transparency. Transparency helps keeps children safe, ensures communities are informed, and helps survivors. Bishop David Zubik's steps toward these goals as laid out in his letter today are welcome.
Yet others miss the mark by a wide margin. While holding listening sessions and retreats for survivors are interesting ideas, they are not examples of the kind of actions that are being demanded of church officials. And when made by someone like Bishop Zubik, who has mishandled cases of clergy sex abuse in both Green Bay and Pittsburgh, these gestures feel empty and late.
Instead of new church structures and offices to oversee future allegations of abuse, Bishop Zubik should instead ensure that those allegations are routed to law enforcement for investigation. Institutions cannot police themselves, no matter how recently created the office or lofty the title. We hope that the proposed Office of Investigation and Monitoring spends more time on the latter, and leaves the former to the police and prosecutors.
Finally, we hope that anyone who may have seen, suspected, or suffered sexual violence in Pittsburgh will find the courage to come forward, make a report to law enforcement, and find independent support from secular therapists, family and friends, or support groups like ours.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, 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
Showing 1 comment
Prayers and Blessings,.. She Will Be Remembered.
Travis Heston Forest or “HESS”