Trial of Fr. Armand Garcia in Philadelphia again continued; SNAP hopes for the victim's sake this will be the final delay
We were astonished to learn of yet another continuance in the trial of Philadelphia Catholic priest Armand Garcia. The cleric’s trial was set to begin on July 12, 2021, but has been put off until August 24, 2021. We can imagine how hard these continued delays must be on the brave survivor. We here at SNAP support her and hope that the slow wheels of justice will soon provide the closure she deserves.
n March of 2018, detectives from the Philadelphia Police Department informed the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that their department was investigating a report of rape against a child. One year later, Fr. Garcia was charged with rape, sexual assault, and the corruption of minors.
We recognize that sometimes delays are sometimes necessary. However, we are concerned because Fr. Garcia has remained free while the legal process unfolds. We worry that the clergyman remains a threat to children and society as a whole while he remains out on bail. We hope not only for the sake of the courageous survivor who has come forward but also for the sake of today's children that there will be no further delays in this case.
SNAP encourages anyone who has suffered sexual assault at the hands of a Catholic priest, brother, nun, lay employee or volunteer to report this to law enforcement, regardless of how long ago it occurred.
CONTACT: Michael McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
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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