Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is a British advocacy and support group formed in 1988 to represent people who allege sexual abuse by clerics in the Roman Catholic Church. The organization engaged with institutions, legal systems, and media outlets to seek redress and reform, interacting with actors such as the Roman Catholic Church, the National Health Service, and parliamentary bodies. It worked alongside other groups and figures including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and investigative journalists from the BBC and The Guardian.

Background and history

The group formed in the late 1980s amid growing revelations about clerical abuse similar to scandals in the United States involving the Boston Globe, and contemporaneous inquiries such as the Nolan Report and the Waterhouse Inquiry. Early interactions involved figures and institutions like Cardinal Basil Hume, Archbishop Derek Worlock, and the Irish Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The organization drew on precedents established by survivors' movements such as SNAP and Victims of Crime organisations in Australia, and it engaged high-profile lawyers including Michael Mansfield and Helena Kennedy in litigation and policy work. During the 1990s and 2000s it contributed evidence to parliamentary committees and inquiries associated with the Home Office, the Department for Education, and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mission and activities

The stated mission emphasized survivor support, accountability for perpetrators, and institutional reform within bodies including dioceses, religious orders, and seminary institutions such as St Edmund’s College and Ushaw College. Activities ranged from campaigning with NGOs like Amnesty International and Equality Now to collaborating with academic researchers at institutions such as the London School of Economics, University of Oxford, and Trinity College Dublin. The organization participated in public hearings alongside complainants appearing before inquiries like the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Savile Investigation, liaised with trade unions such as UNISON on welfare provision, and engaged with media outlets including ITV, Channel 4, and BBC Panorama to raise awareness.

Advocacy and legal actions

Advocacy work included lobbying Members of Parliament, peers in the House of Lords, and ministers in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice for statutory changes involving confidentiality, compensation, and mandatory reporting linked to laws like the Children Act and Sexual Offences Act. The group supported civil claims pursued against dioceses, religious orders, and institutions represented by firms like Slater and Gordon and solicitors associated with cases before the High Court, Court of Appeal, and European Court of Human Rights. It coordinated with campaigners such as Peter Tatchell and organisations including Liberty and Rights of the Child, and submitted evidence to inquiries led by figures such as Lord Independent and Sir William Utting.

Support services and programs

Support services encompassed helplines, peer support groups, counselling referrals, and signposting to clinical services in the National Health Service and private providers including the Tavistock Clinic and SurvivorsUK-style services. The network offered assistance with compensation applications, liaised with social services departments in local authorities like Manchester City Council and Belfast City Council, and developed training for professionals across institutions such as the Crown Prosecution Service, police forces including the Metropolitan Police Service and Police Service of Northern Ireland, and child protection agencies. It collaborated with legal aid providers and charities such as Barnardo's, NSPCC, and Refuge to expand outreach.

Public impact and controversies

The organization contributed to public discourse through collaborations with investigative journalists at The Times, The Independent, and Panorama, and influenced inquiries such as the Macpherson Report and the Hillsborough review by amplifying survivors' testimonies. It faced controversies concerning governance, internal disputes, and disagreements over media strategy that drew commentary from politicians including Tony Blair and John Major, and scrutiny from diocesan authorities and legal commentators in outlets like the Law Society Gazette. Debates involved relationships with faith leaders such as Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, interactions with episcopal conferences, and tensions over compensation schemes, confidentiality agreements, and claims handling by insurers including Ecclesiastical Insurance.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United Kingdom Category:Sexual abuse advocacy groups Category:Religious controversies