Press conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

New York, NY — On Wednesday, April 16 at 11:00am, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) held a press conference in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral to deliver a critical announcement concerning the role of the U.S. Catholic cardinals in the next papal conclave. 

The event focused in particular on Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, and his conduct in St. Louis, Milwaukee, and New York that survivors of clergy abuse say disqualifies him from being elected pope in the next papal conclave. This includes leaving known offenders in ministry, approving secret payouts to abusive priests, withholding evidence of child rape from police, and his potentially fraudulent transfer of $57 million to a cemetery fund to avoid paying settlements to abuse victims. 

As part of the Conclave Watch campaign, SNAP has filed formal complaints with the Vatican under Pope Francis’ decree Vos estis lux mundi against Dolan and six other U.S. cardinals, urging the Vatican to investigate their mishandling of abuse cases. The filings can all be found on Conclave Watch’s recently launched website www.conclavewatch.org. These filings follow last month’s announcement of the initiative in Rome and the organization’s filing of six Vos estis lux mundi complaints against some of the highest-ranking cardinals in the Catholic hierarchy, including several who lead Vatican dicasteries responsible for investigating abuse.   

SNAP is calling on all survivors, whistleblowers, and those with knowledge about the conduct of American cardinals to come forward. The organization offers a confidential and supportive space for survivors to share information and join the fight for justice, transparency, and accountability in faith-based institutions.