CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Sun-Times
BY FRANCINE KNOWLES Religion Reporter August 2, 2014
When Barbara Blaine launched a group 25 years ago to help people sexually abused by Catholic priests, the reception was icy.
It was “utter scorn and disbelief for years by parishioners and church officials,” said David Clohessy, national director of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP. “We would hand out leaflets to publicize our support group outside of a church. The police were called. Parishioners would shout at us and sometimes shove us or spit on us.”
And today?
“We have far less of people calling us liars,” said Blaine, who serves as president and was sexually abused as a child by a priest.
“Parishioners come out and take a flier and say, ‘We’re so grateful for you all for being here. Thanks for speaking up.’ We still get people who complain, but many recognize and appreciate that we’re exposing it.”
SNAP is holding its annual conference in Chicago this weekend as it marks its 25th year. What began as a small, informal group of victims has grown into an international network with more than 19,000 members in 65 U.S. cities and 79 countries.
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