SNAP Media Events

Unprecedented abuse suit filed vs. Christian boarding school

Case charges ‘faith-based’ institution ‘brainwashed’ vulnerable teen

It’s filed under new federal law that’s “a big help to sex trafficking victims”

Prominent survivor who sued her parents to speak; they face felony charges

SNAP: “But time is running out for MO lawmakers to safeguard children”

Group wants more & tougher regulation of controversial ‘faith-based’ facilities

Legislative session ends Friday; No progress yet on protecting kids,’ they say

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, child abuse victims will

---disclose and praise a new, barely-noticed federal law that will help abuse and trafficking victims,  

---announce the filing of an unusual civil child sex abuse suit against a Christian boarding school,

---blast Missouri’s attorney general for “doing virtually nothing” to protect boarding school kids and

---beg lawmakers to do so in the waning hours of the legislative session.

WHEN

Thursday May 16 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE

On the sidewalk just south of the Charles E. Whittaker US Federal Courthouse, 400 E. 9th St., corner of Oak, (in Ilus Davis Park) in Kansas City, MO

WHO

Two-three abuse victims including

--A nationally-known survivor, activist and whistleblower who sued her parents for abusing kids at a Christian reform school who has been profiled in national media including Dateline, Rolling Stone, the Daily Beast, Dr. Oz and an Amazon Prime documentary and numerous media outlets), and

--a St. Louis man who for 30 years headed SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

Prominent boarding school abuse victim speaks out

She sued her parents; They now face 100+ felony charges

Now, she blasts AG for “insulting letter & endangering kids”

Group to Bailey: "Hold zoom meeting with suffering survivors"

In last minute plea, they call on lawmakers to strengthen child safety laws

WHAT

At a sidewalk news conference, a nationally-known survivor, activist and whistleblower will discuss

--startling new revelations that a Missouri sheriff dealt with at least 15 run-away teens – including two just last Saturday – from a Christian boarding school over the past three years,

-- the upcoming criminal trial of her parents on 100+ felony abuse charges stemming from their years-long severe mistreatment of kids at their boarding school, and

-- her just-resolved unusual civil lawsuit against her mom and dad.

Holding signs and childhood photos, she and other abuse survivors will also reveal a “terse and insulting” letter they recently received from Missouri’s attorney general, and hand-deliver a harshly critical letter to him urging him to

--“stop making excuses and start taking action against these controversial, private, largely unregulated ‘faith-based’ boarding schools," and

--hold a Zoom call soon with dozens of victims to "hear their pain and hopefully become more motivated to protect youngsters in these settings.”

In the waning days of the legislative sessions, they will also beg lawmakers to enact measures to

--impose stricter regulations on these "private, secretive and troubling so-called ‘reform schools’" and

--reform Missouri’s ‘archaic and arbitrary’ laws that protect child predators and their supervisors.

WHEN

Wednesday, May 15 at 11:15 a.m.

WHERE

On the sidewalk outside the Missouri Attorney General's office, 207 W. High Street (between Broadway and Washington) in Jefferson City

WHO

A nationally-known survivor and activist who helped persuade prosecutors to file charges against her parents for abusing kids at their reform school and a St. Louis child sex abuse victim who for 30 years headed SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

Victims of boarding school abuse speak out

They allege ‘horrific mistreatment’ at Stockton ‘school’

Crucial criminal trial against two owners is set to  start this fall

Survivors beg MO AG to act on growing scandal & meet them on Zoom

Group also asks lawmakers to reform MO's ‘hurtful’ child sex suit deadline

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, child abuse victims and their supporters will

--urge ‘witnesses, whistleblowers and other victims’ of abuse at a now-shuttered southwest Missouri ‘faith-based’ boarding school to contact law enforcement soon, before a crucial criminal trial begins this fall,

--speak publicly for the first time about the horrific experiences (including sexual, physical, emotional and educational abuse) they suffered at two controversial and barely regulated similar facilities in southern Missouri,

--blast Attorney General Andrew Bailey for essentially ignoring a letter they hand-delivered to his office last month which urged him to take three steps to protect kids at these institutions, and

--beg him to meet with and listen to them in a Zoom meeting so he’ll understand their pain.

They will also

--prod lawmakers, in the waning days of this legislative session (which ends Friday) to reform Missouri’s ‘archaic, arbitrary and predator-friendly’ statute of limitations on child sexual abuse, and

----urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered abuse at any facilities like these to contact “independent sources of help, like police, prosecutors, therapists, attorneys, loved ones and support groups.”

WHEN

Tuesday, May 14 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE

On the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse at 222 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy (between Broadway and Washington) in Springfield MO

WHO

Three women who were sent to these facilities as youngsters and were severely mistreated at a southwest Missouri ‘faith-based’ boarding school.

One is Amanda Householder, a nationally-known survivor, activist and whistleblower who, in a highly unusual move, sued her parents for severely abusing purportedly ‘troubled kids’ at the two now-shuttered Christian reform schools they ran for years. The couple face a trial this fall on 100+ felony charges. (Amanda’s experiences have been profiled on Dateline, Rolling Stone, the Daily Beast, Dr. Oz and an Amazon Prime documentary and numerous media outlets.)

Joining them will be a St. Louis child sex abuse victim (and Drury College grad) who for 30 years headed SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

High profile victim settles unusual lawsuit vs. her parents

She also starts new group for boarding school survivors

She & others blast Missouri politicians including legislators

AG ‘ignored our plea’ last month & should ‘do Zoom call with us,’ they say

Activists also target St. Chas. politician who ‘is trying to take us backwards’

SNAP: He seeks ‘special, dangerous privileges’ for these controversial facilities

WHAT

A nationally-known survivor, activist and whistleblower will

--disclose the settlement of her highly unusual civil lawsuit against her parents and

--discuss the upcoming criminal trial of her mom and dad on 100+ felony charges stemming from their severe and years-long abuse of kids at a now-shuttered Christian boarding school south of St. Louis.

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, she and other survivors of abuse in religious settings will also

--announce the formation of a new non-profit support & advocacy group for adults who suffered sexual, physical, emotional, and educational abuse in ‘faith-based’ boarding/reform schools,

--disclose what they call a ‘callous & insulting’ recent letter from Missouri’s Attorney General,

--hand deliver a letter urging the AG to hold a Zoom call with other abuse victims, and

--blast a St. Charles state representative who’s pushing a bill that they say increases the risk of abuse by reducing the recently-enacted ‘bare-bones’ state oversight of these mostly for-profit facilities.

WHEN

Monday, May 13 at 11:15 a.m.

WHERE

On the sidewalk outside MO AG Andrew Bailey’s office in the Wainwright Building, 709 Chestnut Street (corner of 7th) in downtown St. Louis

WHO

Three-four abuse victims including Amanda Householder (whose experiences have been profiled on Dateline, Rolling Stone, the Daily Beast, Dr. Oz, and an Amazon Prime documentary), two local men, one who’s a Protestant victim and whistleblower and another who for 30 years headed SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

Abuse victims launch four day, four city MO "outreach effort"

They start group for those hurt in Christian boarding schools

“AG & other officials must act now to protect vulnerable kids,” they say

Two survivors of childhood abuse will crisscross Missouri next week in what they’re calling "an outreach and education effort" to "help expose crimes against kids" in Christian boarding schools and prod officials to take immediate steps to "prevent more devastating harm to extremely vulnerable girls and boys."

They are:

--Amanda Householder of California, a nationally-known survivor, activist, and whistleblower who, in a highly unusual civil lawsuit, sued her parents for severely abusing purportedly ‘troubled kids’ at the two now-shuttered Christian reform/boarding schools they ran in southern Missouri for years. The couple face a trial this fall on 100+ felony charges. (Amanda’s experiences have been profiled on Dateline, Rolling Stone, the Daily Beast, Dr. Oz and an Amazon Prime documentary and numerous media outlets), and

--David Clohessy of St. Louis, the former long-time national director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. (As a youngster, he and three of his brothers were sexually violated by a mid-Missouri priest.)

The events kick off on Monday, May 13 in St. Louis. The two, sometimes joined by other survivors and supporters, will also hold news conferences in Springfield on Tuesday, Jefferson City on Wednesday and Kansas City on Thursday.

SNAP & CALL TO ACTION stand with RGV survivors of clergy sexual abuse

The two groups urge all victims to come forward and find help

Remember: law enforcement reports can help ensure what you endured never happens to another

Statement from Brownsville Diocese survivor will also be shared at press event

Victim encourages others to share their truth: “We all deserve support”

WHAT: Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, and a Catholic advocacy group, Call to Action, will read a statement by a survivor of clergy sexual abuse in the RGV. The groups will also provide context as to why victims should be believed, and why they often delay coming forward.

WHEN: Monday, April 22, 2024, at 10:00 am.

WHERE: Outside the Basilica de San Juan, 400 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd, San Juan, Texas. We will be meeting on the public sidewalk on the west side of the Basilica. Enter the address 700 Oblate Street for GPS directions.

WHO: 3-5 victims, advocates and supporters, including David Saavedra, a McAllen counselor and advocate with Call to Action, and Patti Koo, SNAP San Antonio leader and survivor of adult abuse in McAllen, Texas, by a clergy/counselor.

WHY: We are gathering to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse and to educate the public on the importance of believing and supporting survivors, especially in a culture that often prizes a Church’s or a family’s “reputation” over the safety and well-being of its members. Not believing or supporting victims re-traumatizes them and hinders both their coming forward and their healing. We will stand in support of survivors. We believe them and we thank them for speaking out to ensure the safety of others. Victims deserve to live a full life, as they often speak of their childhoods being stolen by the one who abused them. If you, or someone you know has been abused by clergy or others, please reach out to SNAP and other support services. Survivors are also encouraged to report any abuse to law enforcement directly, instead of relying on the Diocese to pass along their truth. 

Victims beg MO AG to intervene in growing scandal

Four Christian boarding schools now face abuse reports

SNAP to Bailey: “Investigate, warn parents & prod local prosecutors”

Group also asks lawmakers to reform MO's 'predator-friendly statute of limitations'

WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference - with signs and childhood photos - child sex abuse victims and their supporters will

--hand-deliver a letter to Missouri's attorney general – signed by seven victims - urging him to investigate and warn the public about recent reports of abuse at largely unregulated ‘faith-based’ boarding schools in Missouri,

--urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered abuse there to come forward, and

--beg lawmakers to reform Missouri’s ‘archaic, arbitrary and predator-friendly’ statute of limitations on child sexual abuse.

They will also testify at a legislative hearing in the afternoon and ask legislators to reform outdated child safety laws and give more abuse victims the chance to expose their predators in court.

WHEN
Monday, April 15 at 11:15 a.m.

WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Missouri Attorney General's office, 207 W. High Street (between Broadway and Washington) in Jefferson City

Victims to leaflet church where accused priest was ousted

With little attention, cleric was suspended 6 months ago

A 2nd predator priest, now deceased, also worked there

SNAP: ‘Bishop must do outreach to seek others in pain’

WHAT

Six months ago, a priest was quietly suspended after being accused of sexually abusing a child. Clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will hold a brief sidewalk news conference and then leaflet around a Catholic parish and school where he worked and reportedly molested.

WHEN

Wednesday, March 20 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE

Outside Immaculate Conception-St. Mary's Church, 519 East 4th Street in Alton, IL (618 465 4284)