CHICAGO (IL)
National Catholic Reporter
Brian Roewe | Aug. 2, 2014 NCR Today
The 25th anniversary conference for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests opened here as you would expect for any organization reaching a milestone. Leading members highlighted moments for retrospection and besto
“You have all chosen to put yourself out there … you take risks,” said David Clohessy, the group’s executive director at the opening session Friday night.
He said what SNAP does – protect the vulnerable … — is “not rocket science … more precious and rare than genius, it takes courage, it takes passion, it takes commitment.”
The conference brought together 350-plus people for a three-day conference that will see SNAP leaders like Clohessy, its president and founder Barbara Blaine and Peter Isely, but also Fr. Tom Doyle, attorney Jeffrey Anderson, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke (an original member of the U.S. bishops’ National Review Board), and Jennifer Haselberger.
Those outside of SNAP who spoke Friday night also offered praise for its efforts of the past quarter century, but more than that posed a question: how will those efforts look in the years ahead?
Pointing to an increasing awareness of the abuse issue in other parts of the globe, in part because of SNAP’s efforts, journalist Jason Berry said as “this critical mass will keep building,” it’s important for the group to think about its long-term plan.
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