Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) had its premier spokespersons conducting workshops at conference: founder-president Barbara Blaine and national director David Clohessy. Both shared their own stories of how they were sexually abused by their parish priests while still in grade school. Both stressed that there are still many, many victims who have not found the courage to come forward.
Most people think SNAP spends most of its time complaining about the bishops'
complicity, cover-ups, and most recently, their tendency to act like now the
problem has been solved. “We do complain,” said Clohessy. The press
regularly calls SNAP for comments on what bishops are or are not doing, and
SNAP always responds. “But that public advocacy is only 10 percent of
our work,” said Clohessy. “The other 90 percent is spent taking
calls from survivors and offering them support.” SNAP support groups now
exist in 50 cities, and the list keeps growing.
Bishops duck future audits
A week after the CTA convention, USCCB voted to discontinue, in perhaps 90 percent
of the 194 U.S. dioceses, independent audits by retired FBI agents of how each
bishop and diocese is handling child molestation cases. SNAP immediately denounced
the decision as a nearly total reversal of the policies adopted by USCCB in
Dallas in 2002. In mid-December SNAP and Voice of the Faithful jointly called
upon the National Review Board through its new chairperson, Nick Cafardi, to
request that the USCCB rescind the decision.
Victim/survivors who have not contacted SNAP should do so, day or night. The
toll-free number is 1-877-SNAPHEALS. Others willing to help will find a wealth
of information and ideas for action at www.SNAPnetwork.org
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