Indiegogo campaign helps survivors expand support groups

Even $5 can make a huge difference. I have often mentioned my volunteer work with SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. They are the nation’s largest and oldest support group for adult survivors who were sexually abused as children in religious and institutional settings. In the past few years, their mission has…Continue reading Indiegogo campaign helps survivors expand support groups

Just because they shout the loudest, doesn’t mean they’re right

The big discussion at the 2014 SNAP conference was “everybody’s favorite pontiff,” Pope Francis. Journalist Jason Berry—who faced raised eyebrows for earlier comments criticizing SNAP’s methods and “skillset“—told the group at his conference speech that SNAP should work strategically to “get a place at the table” and negotiate with the Vatican. (Note: Berry did apologize to the larger…Continue reading Just because they shout the loudest, doesn’t mean they’re right

Pope Francis, Eric Swearingen and another failure of “Zero Tolerance”

If Pope Francis were truly sorry for the sexual abuse of children in the Catholic church, he’s take a gander at a little Catholic diocese is California, where a cleric found guilty of abuse in a civil trial is still a powerful priest. Here’s the situation: Fresno priest Eric Swearingen was recently appointed the pastor of a Visalia,…Continue reading Pope Francis, Eric Swearingen and another failure of “Zero Tolerance”