FORT WAYNE (IN)
WPTA - ABC 21 [Fort Wayne IN]
September 27, 2021
By Arielle Cadet
An advocate and survivor of sexual abuse now works with a national organization that brings attention to the issue.
Michael McDonnell is the communications manager at SNAP, or survivors network of those abused by priest. He knows how it feels to be a victim.
“I disclosed my abuse at the age of 35 but that was after two failed marriages, loss of jobs, many life events. I never wanted to talk about this I never wanted to let this out,” McDonnell said.
McDonnell says he was abused between the ages of 11 and 13 by two members of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. One of those priests was jailed in July of 2020 for another case of abuse and the other is no longer serving as a priest. McDonnell says he turned to alcohol, taking his first sip at 12 years old.
“I disclosed my abuse at the age of 35 but that was after two failed marriages, loss of jobs, many life events. I never wanted to talk about this I never wanted to let this out,” McDonnell said.
McDonnell says he was abused between the ages of 11 and 13 by two members of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. One of those priests was jailed in July of 2020 for another case of abuse and the other is no longer serving as a priest. McDonnell says he turned to alcohol, taking his first sip at 12 years old.
“When the anxiety started to build and when those feelings started to to revisit, as they did a thousand times in my lifetime, I’ve revisited those horrific acts many many times over. Therapy has helped me through that but the minute I picked up that drink it provided an immediate numbing of the pain,” McDonnell said.
He says after years of pain, he finally tried to look for help. That’s when he found SNAP and now that he’s healed from his pain he helps others do the same.
“I had to go through what I had to go through in order to get where I’m at today and that was to become authentic. And through that authenticity I’ve been able to share my story and encourage other individuals to come forward so that they can see that there is strength in voices, strength in numbers,” McDonnell said.
He hopes that others can find courage to ask for help and he’s glad he can provide healing that he needed so much when he was young.
“I don’t have all the answers all the time and I can’t expect that but I can expect that if I need someone will always pick that phone up and reinforce that this too will pass we’re gonna get through another day and we’ll do it together,” McDonnell said.
Arielle Cadet joined WPTA in August 2019. The Atlanta, Georgia native graduated from the University of Missouri and serves as Weekend Anchor/MMJ for ABC21. Feel free to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or shoot her an email at acadet@WPTA21.com.