Out for Money: Jeff Anderson and SNAP [Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests]

Juicy Ecumenism ^ | 10/15/13 | John Goerke

[rhema]

David Clohessy was out in front of the Chancery of the Archdiocese on Thursday October 10th. The Executive Director of SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) according to his own testimony has done this thousands of times. SNAP has been busy in the Twin Cities of late. They have been drawn here by the media frenzy surrounding the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. There is currently at least one lawsuit pending against the Archdiocese, filed by local lawyer Jeff Anderson. Having worked together before, Clohessy and Anderson’s routine is well known. During the course of the allegations, investigations, press feeding frenzy, depositions and (occasional) court show downs; SNAP and Anderson take steps to apply “the most intense pressure”, a phrase from Anson D. Shupe, author of Rogue Clerics.

But last year, as part of a lawsuit pending in Missouri, Clohessy himself was unwillingly deposed. The deposition was recently made public. The document raises more questions than it provides answers. Not only does Clohessy’s testimony undermine the credibility of his own organization, his words also raise questions about Jeff Anderson.

Source: David Clohessy’s Deposition.

Clohessy unsuccessfully tried to use the Missouri Rape Crisis Center Statute to shield himself from being deposed. When asked, “Did you identify yourself as a rape crisis center?” Clohessy answered, “I don’t know.” (pg. 87) Rape crisis centers typically have licensed personnel to counsel and treat victims. From the deposition:

Question: How many licensed–by whatever state the person resides in, how many licensed counselors does SNAP employ?

Clohessy: One that I know of.

Question: And who would that be?

Clohessy: That would be Barbara Blaine.

Question: So you do believe she’s licensed?

Clohessy: Again, I mean she has a Master’s degree in social work. I don’t know whether she’s a LCSW or-you know,

[TexGrill]

I have some familiarity with SNAP. Here’s how the scheme works. SNAP is a PR and recruiting tool for Jeff Anderson. They look for alleged victims and get them to sign up for lawsuits with Jeff Anderson’s firm and nowhere else. They only care about money. They rarely atempt to get priests sent to jail. They just turn a lawsuit into a big media story to negotiate a bigger settlement. Here’s a related link of a story I had written about them a few years ago:

http://www.unpost.org/international-cover-up-priest-misconduct/

[rhema]

On this, Jeff Anderson’s public persona and I agree: the perpetrators of injustice must be brought to the light and held accountable. The difference between us is that I don’t make millions of dollars writing articles like this one. Also, I don’t pretend to be morally incorrupt. Like Pope Francis, Fr. Wehmeyer and (yes) even Anderson and the folks at SNAP, I am a sinner. God will judge me alongside all the rest. Against Anderson and SNAP is a convincing case. Anderson makes a lot of money doing what he does though he claims to be concerned for the victims. SNAP is not a reputable organization but rather presents a new standard as far as incompetence is concerned. There is reason to suspect the recent push by MPR is driven in whole or in part by Mr. Anderson and his money, since MPR is funded by donations, Anderson has money and his profile notes he likes to be close to the press. This is what I maintain; nothing more, nothing less. May God who is Lord of all, judge each of us, including me, according to his justice.

[ViLaLuz]

I don’t discount what this article says but as a survivor of priest abuse SNAP was the only organization that took what I’d endured seriously and got help for me. SNAP helped save my life. That’s much more than the big powerful organization that turned it’s back on me and ran me out.

[ViLaLuz]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

I also found out through snap that I was not the predator’s only victim. He had many complaints against him. back then the cardinal wouldn’t/couldn’t do anything, saying it was my word against his. And back then people could not imagine a priest doing such a thing. That’s how he got away with it with so many young girls.

Snap has a database of complaints, names and locations.