MAST responds to MCC statement that denies “claims of systemic abuse”
On February 5, 2025, MCC posted a public statement in which the organization defends its decision to terminate John and Anicka’s employment in August 2023, “unequivocally” denies “claims of systemic abuse,” and emphasizes MCC’s integrity and care for staff in “difficult and complex situations.”
MAST finds this statement misleading, insulting, and harmful.
John and Anicka say, “by leaving out the most significant pieces of our story (our reports of abuse, the NDA, and the harsh and vicious character of the termination), MCC’s entire story becomes grotesquely misleading.”
Read further for more details, and a general response from MAST as a whole.
Press release, January 31, 2025
MCC reaches non-confidential legal settlement with John Clarke and Anicka Fast
MCC releases misleading internal statement about the legal settlement and the Veritas investigation
MCC’s “internal third-party investigation” by Veritas Solutions finds that “senior MCC staff as a whole” engaged in harassment against John and Anicka
MAST calls for negotiations about an external investigation during upcoming “facilitated conversations”
MAST launches website at https://www.mccabusesurvivors.org/.
Survivors share the deep pain and isolation they feel due to unquestioned MCC loyalty in their communities
Mennonite church leaders support survivors at story-sharing event Dec 12, 2024
MCC releases internal statement about the legal settlement with John and Anicka and the Veritas investigation findings, Jan. 23, 2025
January 23, 2025. MCC Executive Directors sent an email to all staff with an update about the resolution of the legal case with John and Anicka, and a FAQ document about the case and the Veritas Investigation results.
MAST has written a response to this FAQ, which it considers to be “problematic, misleading, and inaccurate in multiple ways.”
Canadian Mennonite reports on Veritas investigation findings, labour board conciliation planned for Jan. 22, 2025, and facilitated discussions brokered by church leaders
One day prior to a planned conciliation meeting between John Clarke and Anicka Fast and Mennonite Central Committee as part of a Québec Labor Board dispute, Canadian Mennonite reports on the Veritas Solutions investigation findings and interviews Fast and Clarke about their expectations for the conciliation process, their reaction to the investigation findings, and their hopes for a restorative solution through a facilitated conversation being brokered by César García (general secretary of Mennonite World Conference) and Marisa Smucker (executive director of Mennonite Mission Network).