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| Survivors Network of
those Abused by Priests
Every
year survivors of sexual, psychological and physical abuse by catholic priests
and nuns, by clergy of all denominations and by abusers from other
organizations meet at the annual SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by
Priest) conference. At the conference,
survivors can meet, talk, attend lectures and hear about progress in stopping
the abuse and bringing justice to the survivors.
One
of these survivors, Dave O’Regan, the New England SNAP Director is making a
special endeavor to help raise money for survivors who need help to attend the
conference. In Dave’s words:
“I
am very happy to announce today a very ambitious goal I set for myself to help
raise funds for survivors of clergy sexual abuse attend the SNAP (Survivors
Network of those Abused by Priest) Annual Conference in Chicago June 24-26. I
am training for and have registered to run in the Worcester 5k Road Race in
Worcester, MA on June 19. My daughter Maureen has teamed up with me to form
Massachusetts Team SNAP. We will both be asking for funds from friends,
relatives, constituents, and all our contacts to help us achieve our goal of
raising $12,500.
This
year I was pleased to learn that a kind and generous donor is matching
donations to SNAP Scholarships up to $12,500. This means that SNAP will have
$25,000 to help survivors attend. I am so appreciative and want to do my very
best to help survivors in financial need here in Massachusetts and across the
country attend.
Everyone has been so kind in the past helping
me achieve this goal the last few years and this year there is a greater need
with “Spotlight”, the movie. More survivors memories are being triggered and
they are coming forward for the very first time and are in need of all the
support we can give. The Annual Conference offers workshops, prominent
speakers, validation, friendships, and a pathway to healing from the deep
wounds of abuse.”
The
Boston Globe’s Spotlight Investigation in 2002 caused Dave to remember and
relive his abuse and suffer PTSD. He considered taking his own life. Then he
found and attended a SNAP support group. He learned from other brave survivors
sharing their painful stories that he was not alone and they gave him the
courage to, for the first time, articulate and speak of his painful past. Dave
couldn’t afford to go the SNAP Annual Conference but funding was available so
he went and it was a life changing experience for him, helping him to heal and get
grounded again.
Dave
gives back by helping other survivors – that is what he did for me. I found
Dave, and SNAP and no longer feel alone with my pain. Now I am paying forward,
helping by writing this blog for survivors and those in danger of being abused. Dave says,
“I
have a deep desire to help other hurting survivors attend and experience the
healing opportunity I found attending my first conference.”
Please
help a survivor. You can make a tax deductible donation through this link:
If you are a survivor in need of help to
attend please follow this link:
Contact
information for Dave O’Regan, New England SNAP Director
Phone:
434.446.6769 worcestersnap@gmail.com
|
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Send a #clergysexabuse survivor to the SNAP Conference
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