Sex abuse victims’ group to hold first support meeting in Stockton

A self-help organization for men and women who were molested by religious figures will hold its first confidential support group meeting in Stockton on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Troke Branch Library, 502 W. Benjamin Holt Drive. Those who suffered institutional abuse and their families and supporters are welcome, but the meeting is not open to the public.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is behind this effort. The mission of SNAP is to support survivors, protect children and raise awareness of sex crimes against children in religious and institutional settings. Despite the word “priest” in the organization’s name, any adult who was abused in any religious setting, either as a child or as an adult, is welcome to attend the meeting.

Kathleen Conti, the Stockton SNAP leader, said the group especially hopes that the 34 people who recently filed a claim against the Catholic Diocese of Stockton with the bankruptcy court will take this opportunity to come together to form a support network.

For more information, contact Tim Lennon at tlennon@SNAPnetwork.org or (415) 312-5820, Kathleen Conti at kathleenconti@live.com or (562) 788-0433, Melanie Sakoda at melanie.sakoda@gmail.com or (925) 708-6175, or Bill Pelzl at bgpez@Comcast.net or (650) 743-4787.