NEW YORK
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Abuse victims to discuss their pain
First-ever NYC “public support group meeting”
Event held in conjunction with survivors’ art show
SNAP has held thousands of such events in private
But this time, victims will share details in open setting
What:
On the day Pope Francis arrives in the US, while surrounded by an exhibit of abuse-inspired paintings created by a young woman who suffered clergy sexual crimes, a group of clergy sex abuse victims will hold an unusual public support group meeting. In frank and personal discussions, they’ll describe the pain they endured (and still endure) because of clerics who committed and concealed sexual violence against them.
The artist will also discuss her paintings and her long, difficult but ultimately successful work to get her perpetrator extradited from overseas to face justice, both civil and criminal.
And the victims will be available to do one-on-one interviews and share their views on what Francs and the Catholic hierarchy must do to “protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded and expose the truth.”
When:
Tuesday, Sept. 22
Survivor Art Exhibit – 3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Public support group meeting – 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 pm.
Where:
Cameo Studios, 307 W 43rd Street in Manhattan
Who:
Six-eight members of an international support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including an Illinois woman who is the organization’s long time president, a New York City survivor/artist whose perpetrator fled overseas but was extradited and pled guilty, and a California woman who is a best-selling author on child protection
Why:
1. Though many know SNAP as an “activist” group, for more than 25 years, its largely volunteer leaders across the US (and increasingly, across the world) have held thousands of confidential, peer-led self-help groups that enable deeply wounded and still-struggling victims of predatory priests, nuns, bishops, ministers, seminarians and other church staff to begin to regain their power and start healing.
In a rare move, the group will open its doors for this one support group media to the media.
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