Sexual Abuse & SNAP

UNITED STATES
The Catholic Eye

Posted by David H Lukenbill

SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, is a wonderful organization that keeps the pressure on the Church to deal with sexual abuse within its priestly ranks effectively.

I have been following them for several years, and they are an organization to keep in touch with for the absolutely amazing work they do.

Many critics claim they are anti-Catholic, but, from what I’ve seen, they area anti-sexual abuse by priests and pro-children.

Here is an excerpt about how they were formed.

An excerpt.

SNAP all began with one person. Barbara Blaine founded SNAP in 1988 after years of pain, depression and shame. She was abused as an 8th grade child by a Toledo, Ohio priest who taught in the catholic school she attended. Years later, her pleas for help from Toledo’s bishop fell on deaf ears. Barbara realized that survivors of clergy abuse could help each other and, by mid 1988, she had built a network of about two dozen victims. By early 1989 several survivors had struck up friendships, held regular telephone conversations and exchanged letters. In 1991, the very first SNAP Meeting was held at the Holiday Inn, Chicago.

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