we are paving the way for an abuse-free church

POPE FRANCIS DIES: Survivors mourn the tragedy of Francis’ papacy

Peter Isely, a founder and Chair of Global Advocacy at the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), said, "Francis began his papacy by promising us and the world that he would put an end to clergy abuse and cover-up. If we had known then what we know now—that he himself covered up sexual crimes in Argentina before becoming pope and that, for twelve years, he failed to use his authority to implement a universal zero-tolerance policy—we would have felt very differently. That’s why we launched Conclave Watch—to make sure survivors and the public know exactly who these papal contenders are, what they’ve done, and whether they can be trusted to finally deliver on the promises of reform that Francis failed to keep."

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Our mission

Conclave Watch is a global, survivor-led initiative by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), dedicated to ensuring that the election of the next pope marks a turning point in the Catholic Church’s response to abuse. This project calls on the next conclave to select a pope who has not covered up abuse and who will commit - on the very first day of his papacy - to enacting a binding, universal zero tolerance law. Conclave Watch reflects a growing global demand that the Catholic hierarchy be held accountable by the wider society to prioritize truth-telling, support justice and healing for survivors, and end the cycle of abuse and cover-up once and for all.

In the News

Featured
Cardinal Accused of Hiding Priest Sex Abuse Will Help Close Pope Francis’ Casket
Cardinal Accused of Hiding Priest Sex Abuse Will Help Close Pope Francis’ Casket

“By having Cardinal Mahony ceremonially close Pope Francis’s casket, the Catholic Church has chosen to let a known enabler of abuse perform one last act of cover-up,” Peter Isely, a founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a statement.

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Hungary’s Péter Erdő is a strong candidate to be the next pope – and that’s reason to be fearful
Hungary’s Péter Erdő is a strong candidate to be the next pope – and that’s reason to be fearful

Potentially more troubling than Erdő’s silences about public issues are signs of past mishandling of allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy…Last month, Snap (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) lodged a complaint with the Vatican alleging that Erdő’s conduct in the matter had “harmed the vulnerable and caused scandal” in breach of the church’s own legal code.

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“Days like this are…agonizing for those who’ve experienced [the church] at its very worst”
“Days like this are…agonizing for those who’ve experienced [the church] at its very worst”

Days like this may show the Catholic Church at its best, but they're agonizing for those who've experienced it at its very worst, survivors of the clerical sexual abuse scandal who feel the Pope let them down. “It's hard to see the celebration ongoing or behind behind us right now of the Pope's life and legacy when he was so inattentive to what survivors needed and unresponsive to the demand for zero tolerance.”

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Press Releases

Featured
SNAP releases new Conclave Watch profiles and letter to Cardinal Grech following press conference in Rome

"Yesterday’s acknowledgment by the College of Cardinals that abuse is a central issue for the conclave is a long-overdue step," said SNAP Founding Member and Global Advocacy Chair Peter Isely. "But words are not enough. The cardinals must act decisively—starting with full transparency around each cardinal elector's past. This is why we are urging the Vatican to treat our updated Vos Estis Lux Mundi filing with the seriousness it demands."

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Abuse survivors to reveal new evidence on papal candidates at Rome press conference ahead of conclave

“It’s long overdue that the College of Cardinals finally acknowledges that clergy abuse is a defining factor in the conclave. Now they must act accordingly. The next pope cannot be another cardinal who has facilitated and enabled abuse throughout his career. If they are as serious about ending abuse as they say they are, they will announce a zero tolerance law on day one of the next papacy,” said Peter Isely.

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POPE FRANCIS DIES: Survivors mourn the tragedy of Francis’ papacy

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis, Survivors around the world are mourning what they perceive as the "tragedy" of his papacy—a preventable catastrophe for the children and vulnerable people who were abused during his tenure.

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SNAP Files Formal Complaints Against Tobin and Six Other US Cardinals as Part of “Conclave Watch”

The event will focus in particular on Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, his central role in the ongoing suppression of results of an abuse investigation commissioned by the university, and SNAP’s conclusion that no American cardinal is qualified to lead the Catholic Church due to their extensive histories of enabling and covering up clergy sexual abuse.

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