SNAP Forms Active Chapter for Clergy Abuse Victims in New Mexico

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has established an active New Mexico State chapter for victims of clergy abuse. SNAP is the nation's largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others). We are an independent and confidential organization, with no connections with the church or church officials.

(PRWEB) June 5, 2004 -- The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has established an active New Mexico State chapter for victims of clergy abuse. The main contact coordinator, Steven Rabi, is an Albuquerque resident.

David Clohessy, Executive Director for SNAP, met with New Mexico clergy abuse survivor, Steven Rabi, in April 2004 and discussed the need for an active presence in New Mexico. There have been several attempts to bring an active outreach to New Mexico but the sheer size of the State is a challenge in meeting the needs of those abused by clergy," Clohessy said.

When I was about eleven years old, I was sexually molested by two priests. I lived less than a city block from the church, and the church property was where we would play." Rabi said. He did not disclose his abuse until 2002 when, according to Rabi the media bombardment of clergy sex abuse became too much for me to be silent forever." According to Rabi, SNAP has been an invaluable healing mechanism for him.

SNAP works to end the cycle of abuse by supporting one another in personal healing and by pursuing justice and institutional change by holding individual perpetrators responsible and the church accountable. To affect that, SNAP members reach out to survivors, their families, and supporters. Through individual contact, peer counseling, support groups and written and web-based information and materials, SNAP helps build mechanisms to support the life-long journey of personal healing.

The Roman Catholic Church in New Mexico is represented by three dioceses: the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the Diocese of Gallup, and the Diocese of Las Cruces. Of those three dioceses, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe received the international media attention due to the scope and magnitude of allegations of clergy sex abuse. More than 19 priests were accused of sexual abuse of minors and at least 187 victims received settlements exceeding $25 million. All three dioceses, however, have handled allegations of clergy sexual abuse of minors.

One of the first things Rabi will do as NM chapter coordinator is request a meeting with all three New Mexico bishops. I would like to speak with Archbishop Michael Sheehan, and Bishops Donald Pelotte and Ricardo Ramirez and explain our mission—I believe we can learn much from each other and discuss means necessary to assist victims. Our roles only become adversarial when ‘the light of truth is not met by actions that bring healing and justice."

Along with SNAP coordinators in Arizona (Winslow, Tucson, and Phoenix) and Colorado (Denver), the New Mexico Chapter hopes to provide outreach to various areas of the State.

SNAP is open to men or women who have been victimized by a religious authority figure of any religious denomination. Family members of victims are also welcome.

To learn more about the New Mexico Chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, a web site has been created: www.snap-newmexico.org.

Contact Information:
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
PO Box 6416
Chicago, IL 60680-6416
Toll-Free Phone:
1-877-SNAPHEALS
(1-877-762-7432)

SNAP Regional Director
Mary Grant - SOUTHERN CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, CO, SD, ND, OK
Phone: (626) 835-9066
FAX: (310) 854-0812
E-mail: mgrantsnap@earthlink.net

SNAP New Mexico Coordinator
Steven M. Rabi
Phone: (505) 280-3369
E-mail: snapnm@snap-newmexico.org
Web site: www.snap-newmexico.org
Mailing address: PO Box 92652, Albuquerque, NM 87199-2652