SNAP calls for new pope to have 'zero tolerance' for child abusers
By Dave Sutor, The Tribune-Democrat, April 22, 2025
Shaun Dougherty, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) Board President (Tribune Democrat)
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, led by President Shaun Dougherty, a Westmont resident, is calling on the College of Cardinals to select a new pope who will immediately adopt a zero-tolerance policy for church leaders who sexually abuse children.
The cardinals will soon gather for a conclave to pick a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church, with its approximately 1.4 billion members, following the death of Pope Francis Easter Monday.
SNAP’s proposed binding, universal rule would mandate the removal of priests and nuns, along with religious and lay leaders, who abuse children, and establish guidelines for dealing with people who conceal their crimes.
“Canon law must clearly identify sexual abuse as a grave crime against the life, dignity, and freedom of victims, rather than a violation of the sixth commandment (‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’),” SNAP wrote in its recommendation.
The worldwide Catholic Church has been dealing with the ramifications of abuse and cover-up within its ranks for decades, including during Francis’ 12-year reign.
“Although a lot of people are mourning Francis’ passing today, none more so than the survivors of clergy sexual abuse because it’s yet another pope that has not implemented the zero-tolerance law that the United Nations and multiple organizations, including the (Pontifical) Gregorian (University) in Rome, have supported its implementation,” said Dougherty, survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a priest in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
SNAP recently established Conclave Watch to examine how cardinals – a group of high-ranking church officials from which the new pope will be selected – have responded to abuse crimes and allegations. Information is being posted at the conclavewatch.org database.
“We are preparing for the next conclave in the hopes to educate the public who should definitely not be elected the next pope,” Dougherty said.
Conclave Watch was recently launched when Dougherty and SNAP Global Policy Working Group members went to Rome and Vatican City to meet with church leaders and the global press that gathered in the anticipation of Francis’ possible death.
“We were laying the groundwork,” Dougherty said. “Everybody was anticipating Francis passing then. However, he recovered, so we changed course a little bit. Since Francis came home, we attempted to get a letter, a heartfelt letter to Pope Francis explaining his opportunity to implement zero tolerance and concrete his legacy to protect children before his passing.”
Dougherty is not sure if the pope ever saw the letter.
But SNAP representatives did meet with prominent church officials, specifically Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state since 2013.
“We shared our zero-tolerance law with him,” Dougherty said.
“We spoke to him of the importance of during the next conclave of selecting a cardinal that has a clean record on covering up child sexual abuse and making sure that the next pope is willing to implement this zero- tolerance law.”
SNAP members plan to be in Rome when the conclave takes place.