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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Full review at http://www.mediocremovie.club/side-pieces/spotlight
In the movie it was obvious the journalist’s were sensitive to the vulnerability of the victims they interviewed however I was disappointed they didn’t touch on the reality that victims were/are from all socioeconomic walks of life. Being associated with the Catholic Church was the only requirement.
When they questioned a victim they were sensitive to how much courage it takes to hear your own voice say the words I was sexually abused. Victims take on the guilt and shame in the aftermath of “P.T.S.D.”, so to step forward “to tell”, is monumental. In doing so they are saying “It wasn’t my fault.” Michael Broussard understands this well. He is an abuse survivor who has produced and acts in the one man play “Ask a Sex Abuse Survivor”. This play and the movie are “out there” now to enlighten and educate the public about just how devastating sexual abuse is to one’s life. I know. I am a survivor.
The second time I saw the movie was in South Carolina. It helped me to see the movie again to deeply appreciate the hard work of investigative journalists and then their humility in having to admit that 5 years previously the story of clergy sexual abuse was not followed up on, partly because Boston is a Catholic town, and the one case reported on was dismissed as a one off situation, especially by the dishonest Church leaders. The thought that the rape of children was endemic in the priesthood was too horrible to believe it to be true. If it wasn’t for SNAP and other victim/survivor groups, I feel sure that the Church would still be covering up the truth. I am deeply grateful to SNAP for the help I received in preparing a report to police in my case. The attentiveness of the reporters to the victims once the reporters realized that sexual abuse was going on, was hopeful that victim/survivors in future will be listened to and believed, because that is what needs to happen for there to be hope for truth and justice. Sadly, clergy sexual abuse continues today around the world, when the Church thinks it can get away with it.
Sincerely, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh, MD, MSpir
I saw it with my husband who I believe came away with a whole new understanding of what I went through. He’s been my rock!
I am so grateful for all SNAP does! I wish there was a group near where I live.
Thank you!
justice and healing can be had.
In a couple of days the Catholic Church will initiate its “Year of Mercy,” yet its agenda for that year rather amazingly omits any commitment to making amends to abuse victims. I think that SNAP needs to stand on the Church’s toes for every day or the Year of Mercy, like the widow Jesus described who called upon the corrupt judge day and night until he delivered justice to her.