Dear SNAP Survivors and Allies,

I usually reach out to you each month to tell you about the latest news from our SNAP community.

But I’m coming to you today to ask for your help. SNAP, our partners and other advocates, like you, are working hard to get California AB1739 passed, which we believe is an important survivor justice bill, an an intrinsic part of SNAP’s mission.

Individual allies are being asked to submit their letters in support here. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, March 15, so please join us urgently in voicing your approval. You can find the bill language here.

This is some of what I said in the letter that I submitted on behalf of SNAP yesterday:

“SNAP works to reform archaic, predator-friendly laws that allow abuse and cover-ups to continue. By changing these laws, cycles of trauma are broken, ensuring the next generation is protected. AB1739 would do just that.”

I’m attaching some sample letter language below for those who would like to get involved and join us in getting this important law passed.

Thank you in advance for your support — your efforts can help get this legislation over the finish line to help prevent clerical abuse!

In Solidary, Angela

Sample Support Letter – AB 1739

https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/

Date

Assembly Public Safety Committee

Business and Professions Committee

RE: AB 1739 (Ward) Healing arts: Sexual Exploitation: Clergy – SUPPORT

Dear Committee Members:

On behalf of [your name], I am pleased to support AB1739 which would strengthen protections against sexual exploitation by expanding California law to explicitly include members of the clergy within the state’s sexual exploitation statute.

[Insert description of your activism experience]

If passed, this legislation would bring California in line with 14 other states and the District of Columbia, which have similar laws in place. We believe that clergy should be held to the same standards expected of those who work in other helping professions, like counseling, psychology, and medicine. AB1739 would do just that.

We are grateful to Assembly Member Christopher Ward for this effort to make California’s faith-based communities and beyond safer. Clergy abuse not only affects those in the three major Christian groups in the United States, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox, but in every other religious community as well as other communities where members of the clergy engage the public (e.g., hospital visits, home visits, etc).

Respectfully submitted, Your Signature