The nation's largest support group for victims of clergy abuse, organized a meeting in Boardman, Thursday night.
The group, known as S.N.A.P. which stands for "Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests," hosted a meeting inside the Boardman library. Judy Block Jones of S.N.A.P. explains the group's purpose, "We are an independent organization. We have nothing to do with the church. We are a safe haven for survivors who have been sexually abused by clergy."
Jones believes the meeting was especially important in light of recent events. It was just a month ago that allegations began surfacing here in the Valley about Father Thomas Crum, a priest in the Youngstown Diocese for 35 years.
Crum admitted to a claim of sexual abuse that happened while he was on the faculty at Cardinal Mooney High School.
S.N.A.P. doesn't believe the Catholic church is doing enough and the group feels meetings, like the ones the group hosts, would be a good way for the church to reach out to victims of clergy abuse. "The goal is to prod any parishioners, Catholics, witnesses, a spouse of a survivor, to come forward and contact police, to prod the Bishop to do more," Jones adds.
Only a few people turned out for Thursday night's meeting, but one person shared a story of a relative who was allegedly abused by Father Crum. S.N.A.P. continues to encourage others who were abused to contact their local police.
S.N.A.P. was started in 1989, and has more than 9000 members across the country.
Meanwhile, the investigation into allegations made against Father Crum continues.
