David Clohessy, activist director of the Survivors’ Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), resigned after a SNAP employee sued citing a lawyer kickback scheme.
We do not have many headlines like this one on These Stone Walls. It has the look and feel of descending into tabloid journalism, but when the headline is true, there is just no higher road to take. This is a story that must be told.
And I am not the first to tell it. In late January, David F. Pierre, author of several books including Sins of the Press and host of TheMediaReport.com published a report entitled, “Lawsuit by Ex-SNAP Insider Exposes Lawyer Kickback Schemes.” And to the surprise of many, the left-leaning, usually SNAP-friendly National Catholic Reporter broke the story first in a January 18 account by NCR Editor Dennis Coday, “Sex Abuse Advocacy Group SNAP Sued by Former Employee.”
One day later, The National Catholic Register carried the story by Catholic News Agency writer, Kevin Jones entitled, “Did SNAP Receive Kickbacks for Suing the Church?” All three versions of the story have been sent to me by multiple TSW readers who asked me to write about it. A week after these accounts emerged, SNAP’s longtime Executive Director, David Clohessy, has mysteriously resigned. This is a development of immense importance in the arena of Catholic Priests Falsely Accused, one of David F. Pierre’s most revealing books.
I have an angle on this story that none of the other accounts have, and I’ll get back to that, but first the story itself. In a lawsuit filed on January 17 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Gretchen Rachel Hammond, SNAP’s former Director of Development, charged that she was terminated from her position after discovering what many have long suspected. The lawsuit alleges…
“…that SNAP routinely accepts financial kickbacks from attorneys, and in exchange for the kickbacks, SNAP refers survivors as potential clients to [these] attorneys, who then file lawsuits … against the Catholic Church. These cases often settle, to the financial benefit of the attorneys and, at times, to the benefit of SNAP, which has received direct payments from survivors’ settlements.”
The named defendants in the lawsuit are [the now-resigned] SNAP President Barbara Blaine, the now-resigned Executive Director David Clohessy, and “Outreach Director” Barbara Dorris who declined to comment for the NCR article. The lawsuit alleges that SNAP claims non-profit federal tax exempt status as an organization with the purpose of providing. “support for men and women who have been sexually victimized by members of the clergy [with] moral support, information and advocacy,” while in reality it is a commercial operation “motivated by its directors’ and officers’ personal and ideological animus against the Catholic Church.”
FOLLOW THE MONEY
The lawsuit alleges that SNAP and its directors received substantial ‘contributions’ from the same attorneys to whom they refer clients, as much as 81 percent of SNAP’s annual budget in some years. In 2007, a full 38% of SNAP’s income for that year came from one “prominent Minnesota attorney who represents clergy abuse survivors.” That attorney is alleged to have provided $169,716 in kickbacks to SNAP in 2007, and $415,000 In 2008. The lawsuit claims that lawyers in California, Chicago, Seattle and Delaware also made major “donations,” some of them in six figures.
Former SNAP official Gretchen Rachel Hammond concludes in her lawsuit that “SNAP does not focus on protecting or helping survivors – it exploits them.” She alleges that SNAP leaders ordered her “not to reveal to anybody that SNAP received donations from attorneys.” She also alleges that in 2011 and 2012, SNAP leaders “concocted a scheme to have attorneys make donations to a front foundation” to conceal “attorneys’ kickbacks” to the organization.
The lawsuit alleges a pattern of collusion between plaintiff lawyers and SNAP officials to maximize publicity for the purpose of fueling bigger payouts while SNAP “callously disregards the real interests of survivors.” It claims that attorneys gave SNAP the drafts of plaintiff claims and other privileged information to generate sensational press releases.
In 2009, at the invitation of Bill Donohue, I wrote a feature article for Catalyst, the Journal of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights entitled “Due Process for Accused Priests.” The article researched and exposed the practice of mediated settlements and SNAP’s demands to eliminate statutes of limitations for suing Catholic institutions – and only Catholic institutions – decades after civil laws allowed.
Up until that time, I had been spared SNAP’s pattern of public attack and character assassination, but my Catalyst article put me squarely on SNAP’s radar screen. Catholic writer Ryan A MacDonald – in “Why Do SNAP and VOTF Fear the Father Gordon MacRae Case” – quoted a comment by SNAP Director David Clohessy describing me as “a dangerous and demented man.”
On August 6, 2009, RenewAmerica.com writer Matt C. Abbott gave David Clohessy a soapbox for a rebuttal to my article which Mr. Abbott titled, “Imprisoned Priest, Clergy Abuse Survivor Clash.” Seeming to be in fear of the very exposure that the present lawsuit against SNAP now brings, Mr. Clohessy laid out a wildly false set of defensive statements and accusations: “The burden is on the victims, not the accused priests to prove these cases,” he wrote.
At the same time, Clohessy was well aware, and went on to describe, that the vast majority of the claims brought against priests are settled out of court with no findings of fact at all. Clohessy blamed this practice on the bishops who, he wrote, “insist on group settlements” because “they are scared to defend themselves in court.”
Clohessy knew very well that the machinery of making decades old claims followed by financial compensation depended on asking few questions before writing lucrative checks. Still, he claimed that “many victims desperately want and could benefit from having their ‘day in court’ to expose not just their predator, but those who shielded and protected him.”
Now, according to Ms. Hammond’s lawsuit, it seems that David Clohessy’s annual salary and SNAP’s annual bottom line depended on keeping the machinery of blanket settlements going. In his landmark book, Catholic Priests Falsely Accused David F. Pierre described the quality of due process and distinguishing true from false claims in my own diocese:
“In 2002, the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, faced allegations from 62 individuals. Rather than spending the time and resources looking into the merits of the accusations ‘Diocesan officials did not even ask for specifics such as the dates and specific allegations for the claims,’ New Hampshire’s Union Leader reported. ‘Some victims made claims in the past month, and because of the timing of the negotiations, gained closure in just a matter of days.’ ‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ a pleased and much richer plaintiff attorney admitted.” (Catholic Priests Falsely Accused, p. 80)
Two of the reporters covering this story – Dennis Coday for the National Catholic Reporter and Kevin Jones for Catholic News Agency – do a disservice to the cause of truth and justice in their reporting of it. They both refer repeatedly to SNAP’s (and the lawyers’) clients as “sex abuse victims” or “sex abuse survivors.”
It is true in some cases, of course, but it is true in most cases only if one accepts SNAP’s and the lawyers’ mythology that the claims against priests for which clients received blanket settlements were demonstrably true, and were measured and tested in some form of investigation. Most were not. Simply throwing money at an accuser does not constitute due process or a determination of truth. Some have been victims of little more than their own greed.
POPE BENEDICT’S ‘CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY’
SNAP successfully generated and manipulated a climate of outrage to fuel accusations and keep the money flowing. It was a climate few Catholic leaders had the courage to challenge, but one did. In his series of columns entitled “Scandal Time” in First Things magazine, Father Richard John Neuhaus tried to call upon American Catholics to put the brakes on the outrage fueled by SNAP:
“Priests, too, are deemed innocent until proven guilty. In the current climate of outrage, we need to be reminded of that fact… News reports claiming that a certain number of priests have been charged with abuse and that the claims were settled out of court must not be interpreted to mean that the priests were guilty. Some of them insisted and insist that they are innocent, but bishops were advised by lawyers and insurance companies that a defense of the claims could cost much more than settlement out of court.” (Scandal Time, April 2002)
After Father Neuhaus published this cautionary statement, the bishops of the United States met in Dallas in 2002. Under the watchful eyes of a scandal hungry media, the bishops invited two “victim-activists” to address the conference that resulted in the Dallas Charter and the undoing of any priest accused. They were David Clohessy and SNAP president, Barbara Blaine.
SNAP’s national director, David Clohessy previously worked for over a decade for ACORN (Association of Community Organization for Reform Now), a group with aggressive, manipulative, and confrontational activism modeled after the tactics of 1960’s radical Saul Alinsky. Keeping the money flowing depended on creating and maintaining sufficient moral panic.
In August, 2011, the Catholic League published what should have been an explosive document if it had been given fair treatment in the news media. “SNAP Exposed” described in detail the ways David Clohessy and SNAP coached accusers in framing claims in order to maximize and manipulate media coverage.
One of the many egregious examples was SNAP’S recommendation for accusers and their lawyers to “display holy childhood photos” before news cameras adding, “If you don’t have holy childhood photos, we can provide you with photos of other kids that can be held up for the cameras.”
A month later, seemingly in retaliation for exposing the truth, SNAP co-opted a radically left legal activist group, the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, to file a “Crimes Against Humanity” charge against Pope Benedict XVI with the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
And in seeming retaliation for my 2009 article, “Due Process for Accused Priests,” I became an unwitting pawn in the attack on the Pope. David Clohessy and the Center for Constitutional Rights used an untrue and thoroughly debunked claim against me to bolster the charge against Pope Benedict. In her courageous article “Oscar Hangover Special: Why ‘Spotlight’ Is a Terrible Film,” journalist JoAnn Wypijewski unmasked the shame of this tactic in her indepth coverage of the film, “Spotlight”:
“The film’s advertisement for SNAP, the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests… elides SNAP’s belief that wrongful prosecutions are a small price to pay in pursuit of a larger mission … something the [Boston Globe] didn’t much concern itself with as it collected its Pulitzer for service in the public interest; something even the Center for Constitutional Rights disregarded in 2011 when it joined with SNAP to file a grotesque brief to the International Criminal Court demanding ‘investigation and prosecution’ of the Vatican for crimes against humanity.
The CCR brief failed, but its unchallenged acceptance of accusations, anonymous complaints, prosecution arguments… with no benefit of cross examination and no recognized rights of the accused is breathtaking, especially when one considers that CCR was simultaneously and courageously arguing on behalf of Guantanamo detainees…
To CCR’s shame, Father MacRae is specifically mentioned in that brief, with respect to allegations … for which there is no evidence according to the lead detective in the case cited by [The Wall Street Journal’s Dorothy] Rabinowitz.”
When I learned of this grave injustice, I tried to write to the Center for Constitutional Rights – It seemed a prophetic sign that its headquarters is located at 666 Broadway in Manhattan – but there was never a response. I wrote of the final outcome of CCR’s shameful complicity with SNAP in a TSW post, “The International Criminal Court has Dismissed SNAP’s Last Gasp.”
Perhaps I was premature. SNAP’S last gasp now seems to be the current lawsuit by one of its own directors. David Clohessy has claimed that his resignation has nothing to do with the current lawsuit exposing SNAP’s alleged financial kickbacks from clients’ lawyers.
It now remains to be seen whether David Clohessy and SNAP will follow their own advice about out-of-court settlements, and allow this lawsuit to go to a full and open trial before a civil jury.
And perhaps a RICO investigation – the government’s acronym for organized Racketeering, Influence, and Corruption – might also now be in order.
As I come to the end of this post, it has just been announced that SNAP founder, Barbara Blaine, has also tendered her resignation. In her brief statement she insists that it has nothing to do with the lawsuit which she says has no merit “like all the other lawsuits” against SNAP. [See the report on David F. Pierre’s TheMediaReport.com: SNAP Founder and President Barbara Blaine Now Resigns As Pressure Mounts From Multiple Lawsuits.]
Sonny's Mom says
Ethics complaints also need to be filed against each of the plaintiffs’ attorneys involved, as credible evidence of inappropriate payments to SNAP becomes available. Filing instructions can be obtained from the Office of Bar Counsel in the states where these attorneys are licensed to practice.
Liz says
I love to see something as awful as SNAP unravel.
God bless you!
Ryan A. MacDonald says
Father Tom Doyle’s comment is disappointing if not disingenuous. There is no doubt in my mind – in any of our minds – that the sex abuse scandal in the priesthood was real. The victims were real. The perpetrators and their enablers were real. But from this painful reality, SNAP leaders entered into a scorched-earth, self-righteous witch hunt in 2002. Many of the subsequent claims are not real. Father Doyle here chides Father MacRae for not having every fact before drawing a conclusion, but SNAP leaders DID have access to the facts when they included untrue claims against MacRae in their petition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for a failed “crimes against humanity” charge against Pope Benedict. SNAP leaders, presumably with the assistance if not blessing of Father Doyle, ignored the findings of investigators and The Wall Street Journal and presented as true to the ICC at The Hague what had already been demonstrated as false. SNAP leaders chose to use the heavy cross of false witness and wrongful imprisonment that this priest has carried for all these years as a pawn in their attack on the Catholic Church. It was a cheap and shameful publicity stunt. Father Doyle does not get to blithely ignore this fact. SNAP leaders and their apologists and enablers have aptly demonstrated their moral and spiritual bankruptcy. Now the question remains: Will they settle the current law suit out of court to keep a lid on any further discovery of the rot that has grown out of what was once a legitimate service to real victims of abuse?
http://www.themediareport.com/hot-topics/rev-thomas-p-doyle-o-p/
Marie Colliton says
I am really glad to see this comment. Father Doyle did not identify himself as a priest in his comment, nor did he disclose that he is a long time advisor to SNAP. Having read Ryan MacDonald’s comment, I can only conclude that this comment and this post are just the tip of the iceberg. The news media had done a great disserve to all Catholics by never having any skepticism about what is fed to them by a self serving group like SNAP.
HELEN says
Thank you for your wonderful comment, again, Ryan. Quite often, your words are mine. I hope that you will continue to comment on this despicable, treacherous lack of justice, toward a very committed priest, who, if not for his blog, most of us would not know what is truly going on in the media, SNAP or any other fake news. I think the most sad and shocking of all of these is the conspiracy and betrayal of men in black, Father Gordon’s brother priests, who have turned to worldly ways and ignored justice and truth.
Sadly, it is becoming so hard to know what to read these days. Trying to weigh whether or not the printed word is true, sensationalized or fake. It’s daunting. So, you can readily see, Ryan, why we need people like Father Gordon, Father George and YOU to alert ‘we the people’.
God bless you, Father Gordon…and ALL who support him….and thank you so very, very much
Helen
Bill Wendell says
Our support, interest and belief in Fr. Gordon has continued for many years.
With this post I am more reminded of perhaps hundreds of others in similar situations to Fr. Gordon whose names we do not know and will probably never know.
I have always thought of Fr. G. as a martyr for Christ not unlike John the Baptist or St. Maximillian Kolbe.
We are grateful for your blog, your faith and your commitment to the truth. You speak for hundreds of priests. We recognize that Satan is the Prince of Lies and now it comes out
in credible media about the deceptions, lies, kickbacks, conflicts of interest and more at SNAP. No wonder they were never interested in the truth.
Fr. Gordon, we all remember you daily at mass, in our prayer time and in our thoughts.
Be encouraged by Our Lord who loves his Martyrs, who is the Truth you represent and the prayers of thousands of your supporters.
Helen says
Thank you, Bill, for your words. You speak for so many of us.
God bless
Helen
Helen says
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” MATTHEW 23:2-4
Oh Father Gordon, this just jolted me. Just wanted to share. I’m writing to Bishops so I think I’m gonna have to quote this.
God bless
Suzanne Sadler says
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2017/02/such-was-snap/
MaryJean Diemer says
Hi Father Gordon!
Praying that all is finally coming to fruition. Evil needs to be faced and it looks like the Holy Spirit is about to move and shake them!Keeping the prayers going for you all. Jeannie
Father Gordon MacRae says
Over the last sixteen years or so, many priests and church officials have lived in fear of SNAP and it’s bully tactics. SNAP had the ear of the news media and was always vicious in its attacks on the church and priests. For reasons I never understood, I was never on the SNAP radar screen so there was really very little attack on me, personally. SNAP stayed clear of me and I stayed clear of them. But then a few years ago, Father Benedict Groeschel was in their sights. He made a public comment about some of the claims of some priests being frauds. SNAP officials then issued a press release inviting anyone who wants to accuse Father Groeschel of molesting them to contact the SNAP office for consultation. It was only then that SNAP ended in MY sights. The whole American church has been paralyzed in fear of them. My only fear was that, like any bully, was that no one would stand up to them. Now someone did, and the truth is coming out. Remember the words of the great. Servant of God, Father John Hardon: “It is the duty of every Catholic to know the truth, to stand by the truth, and to spread the truth.”
Thank you for spreading this truth on social media.
With blessings,
Father Gordon MacRae
Thomas Doyle says
Your information about SNAP is incorrect and probably obtained from the negative attacks by Bill Donohue and David Pierre, neither of whom know much if anything about the facts. They have each created their own mythology about sexual abuse in general. David and Barbara’s departures from SNAP were in the works in 2016 and the exact dates of departure decided upon before the lawsuit was ever known. Both of them were pretty worn out. The lawsuit remains a mystery because there is no factual evidence for the main charge about kickbacks. What is probably happening is that someone else is behind it..someone who wants to eliminate SNAp because it has been a powerful source of opposition to the Church. You should also know that SNAP is not dead and won’t be because it exists in separate local chapters throughout the world. The central entity is the subject of the lawsuit but the rest forge on. Please…if you are going to attack someone or something, get the acts right. You above anyone should know that.
Maria Stella says
Mr. Doyle,
Are you aware there was another lawsuit against Mr. David Clohessy and Ms. Barbara Dorris – initiated in 2015? Could this be the reason they ‘decided’ to resign in 2016…? Since you refer to them by their first names, I assume you are well acquainted with them. …and perhaps also know of the lawsuit of 2015?
I cannot find the original report, which I had read and had copied. That report actually provided more details on the (in my opinion – very dishonest and disgraceful) behavior of SNAP with respect to Fr. Jiang. I did not get the impression that SNAP was after the truth of what really happened… not at all.
Today I searched online for that lawsuit. To my surprise, the above-mentioned case was reported by Crux, though not in detail that I remember – and being Crux, it is more sympathetic to SNAP. See link below, and the whole text that link follows:
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2016/08/23/judge-sanctions-snap-defying-orders-abuse-lawsuit/
—————————————————————————————————–
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A federal judge has admonished an advocacy group for clergy abuse victims for defying her orders to release personal information about people who accused a priest of sexual misconduct.
In a ruling Monday in St. Louis, U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson cited the “deliberate and willful refusal” by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests to turn over information to Father Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang.
Jiang is suing SNAP, St. Louis city, two police officers and the boy’s mother for defamation. His lawsuit, filed in 2015, names the accuser’s parents – by initials only – along with St. Louis police Officers Tonya Porter and Jaimie Pitterle, the city of St. Louis, SNAP and the group’s leaders, David Clohessy and Barbara Dorris.
In the lawsuit, Jiang claimed he’s the victim of both religious and racial discrimination, asserting that the priest had fled religious persecution in China only to face further harassment in the United States. He is seeking information about the people who lodged the accusations against him.
Jackson says she’ll direct that it has been established that SNAP plotted against Jiang.
St. Louis prosecutors accused Jiang in 2014 of sexually abusing a boy in a Catholic school bathroom but dropped the charges without explanation last year.
SNAP considers the information Jiang seeks privileged.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Father George David Byers says
Revelation 13:18 about 666 and the wisdom needed to understand, recalls the most wise of all, King Solomon, who, as a son of David, was Priest, Prophet and King. He was wise before his fall, which came immediately after the Queen from the South left to return to her Kingdom. You might think Solomon is being praised in the verses which follow in 1 Kings 10:14 ff., or in 2 Chronicles 9:13. But no. This is his condemnation. We read about this in Deuteronomy 17:14-17. Solomon, from whom the future Son of David would come, was himself High Priest, Prophet and King. But he fell hard, becoming the anti-Christ par excellence. In his greed, he taxed people to death, 666 talents of gold coming to him yearly. This caused the splitting up of the nation to North and South. He thus failed as King. He also had his sons sacrificed to demons, thus failing as priest. He lost sight of the Living Truth, thus failing as prophet.
Is this not what we see today with so many of the sons of Solomon, who have forgotten that they are to be sons of David, sons of the Immaculate Conception, brothers of Jesus? The bishops, taken with their own abuse of power, sacrifice their priests to the pagan god of money, spouting untruth with their self-hero worship.
Priests who are falsely accused must be aware that they are crucified with the Son of the Living God, and thus fulfill their priesthood from the cross, put there by the greed of those who betray them, but who, remaining faithful on the cross now, will come to judge, with Jesus, the living and the dead and the world by fire. The excuse “Pro bono ecclesiae” (For the good of the Church) will not be accepted. Truth and goodness and kindness is what is acceptable. Saying “But I was in the USCCB” or “I was in the Roman Curia” will have no effect then.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
Father George David Byers
Ryan A. MacDonald says
Back in 2002, around the time when the US bishops invited David Clohessy and Barbara Blaine to assist them in developing their zero tolerance policy for accused priests, I recall listening to a TV news interview out of Boston. A reporter asked one of the now-millionaire contingency lawyers if he thought any of the accused priests might be innocent. The lawyer shook his head stating that it was not his job to question his clients or to validate their claims. It was the job of Church officials. Father MacRae in this fine article has shown us truthfully how the Diocese of Manchester handled that aspect of things.
Most of the claims were not filed in any court of law. The lawyers simply sent letters listing the names of the priests accused by their clients. Most of the accusations were from the 1980s or earlier when there was insurance coverage. The accused priests would be thrown under the bus while the accusers – mostly men in their 40s and 50s – would remain “John Does.” This process yielded the lawyers and their clients an excess of $3 billion nationwide. The accused priests’ names were then sent to Rome with a declaration that they were the subjects of a “credible” accusation. What they meant by “credible” is that money had changed hands.
In the Diocese of Manchester, an excess of $30 million was shelled out to these lawyers in just the manner that Father MacRae here describes. According to his published resume, Monsignor Edward Arsenault personally presided over 250 such settlements using this same process of no real questions asked. Now Monsignor Arsenault himself sits in prison having been exposed for pilfering some $300 thousand from his diocese and other sources, all while earning $160,000 per year as Director of St. Luke Institute. According to the media, the funds were used to support the lavish lifestyle of a homosexual relationship. This is all part of a truly ugly story, and this meltdown at SNAP, and the exposure of these alleged kickbacks, is but the latest chapter. Meanwhile, a priest up there has sat in prison for 22 years for crimes that never took place, and they all know it.
Ryan A. MacDonald
Helen says
Ryan, what a great comment. Help us to know how to best defend this martyr. Thank you for caring so much and commenting so often. It helps to keep us better informed from another objective perspective. Quite often, you have the words that I can’t find.
Keep on keeping on, please.
Thank you
Father George David Byers says
It must be remembered that Monsignor Edward J Arsenault III settled those 250 cases while also being chairman of The National Catholic Risk Retention Group, which is an unfathomable conflict of interest. TNCRRG explicitely forbids that priests be defendants, thus disallowing them to have any due process. This situation was, of course, inviting of kickbacks. I’m not saying that that happened, though everything points to RICO type infractions. This needs an examination along with all the other unbelievable conflicts of interest in this case.
Fr Stuart MacDonald says
Thank you Ryan and Fathers Gordon and George for these insights. They’re only the tip of the iceburg. In this centenary year of the visions of Fatima in which our Lady asked for penance, penance, penance and told us of the figure in white climbing over dead bodies to the cross, perhaps we should heed her call over the destruction which SNAP, fraudsters, and cowards have wrought in the Church. How many demoralized priests, accused priests with no due process, clerics of all ranks with dead consciences are represented in those visions? Keep fighting the good fight gentlemen. You are not alone. My daily prayers continue to be with you Fr Gordon. I ask your blessing.
Fr Stuart
DPierre says
This is David Pierre from TheMediaReport.com …
TSW readers may be interested to know that there was *another* lawsuit filed against SNAP early last week (1/30/17).
A priest in Michigan has sued SNAP alleging that the group falsely accused him of being a molester.
Stay tuned for more on this, everyone!
God bless you, Father!
MaryJean Diemer says
I hope more will follow. This so needs to be addressed.
Father Jim says
It has been born out again and again that those who wait and trust in the Lord will not be disappointed. This is especially true when it comes to the exposure of evil and injustice as revealed in the recent scandal and scam of the SNAP organization. We can only hope that there will be a full and thorough investigation that will encompass as well the role and complicity of the NCCB in furthering and supporting this nefarious organization due to intimidation and lack of moral courage. If there is sin here, the church is also stained and culpable. Only God knows how many good and innocent priests have suffered and continue to suffer due to the greed of lawyers and bishops who were more concerned with their reputations and finances than truth. It is incomprehensible to understand how the canonical and civil rights of our priests could be suspended and denied without due process and their guilt established by simple accusation. Where else can we find something as egregious as this and allowed in our society?
Priests have not only been hurt by this but the entire American church which literally gave away millions of dollars depleting our charities and denying sacramental and pastoral care to souls because of the lack of clergy. Where is the accountability for this? Our Holy Father continually speaks of a “globilization of indifference” and a “disposable culture.” How is this not applicable in this situation? Can we be that blind?
If there is any decency left, I would hope that the NCCB, recognizing its part in this seemingly irreparable and criminal act, would do everything possible to at least free Father Gordon MacRae from prison for an act he never committed and of which “everyone” knows is innocent. He is a living martyr betrayed by the very church he loves and continues to serve. This can be done if our bishops are moved to apply the same resources and intensity that they displayed in covering their tracks from the very beginning.
This is my prayer to the Mother of God who cares and always cares for her priests even if others don’t.
I call on everyone to write to the NCCB and the Holy Father not only for mercy but for justice as well.
Sincerely … Father Jim
Annie Karto says
Fr. Jim what a true insight! I urge all my fellow TSW readers to accept Fr Jim’ s invitation and write to the NCCB and Our Holy Father on behalf of Fr Gordon, and all falsely accused priests. We must let our voices for them be heard!
Charlene says
The addresses of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB):
Via email – http://www.usccb.org.about/contact.us.cfm
Via snail mail: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th St. NE
Washington, DC 20017
Let’s flood them with our thoughts!
charlene
Maria Stella says
I will be writing the USCCB over the weekend, and sending a copy of the letter to Fr. MacRae.
Thank you for posting the USCBB, Charlene. I will also ask them for a response to my letter.
Fr. Thomas J. Hennigan says
I read recently in a Spanish language web portal that the new, appointed about a year ago by Pope Francis, Archbishop of Mexico City has brought SNAP into his diocese. For this and other canonical irregularities, he is facing a rebellion by part of his clergy. This is like bringing in the devil to the Archdiocese of Mexico. How much damage is this Cardinal going to do with this in Mexico, where they are probably unaware of the demonic character of SNAP, although some do know.!!!
My prayers for all the brother priests who have been betrayed by their own bishops and calumniated by SNAP and other such groups.
Mairin says
Well, well, well. Mr. Clohessy just might have to get a day job. I always thought there was something fishy about that little twerp. For one thing, his animosity seemed to have no limits. How much revenge did he need? Especially considering that he knew so many of those accused were innocent. He should have to spend his ill-gotten gains in making reparations to the priests falsely accused.
Joan Ripley says
Thank God, Father Gordon; it’s about time!
Great article…. hope springs eternal!
Hope you and Pornchoi are managing to hang in there…
With prayers and all good wishes….
Tom says
Good for you Father Gordon and I am glad SNAP is being exposed for what they truly are!!!!
Helen says
FATHER GORDON…..GOD IS ON THE MOVE!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO……THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS.
Carlos says
I just noticed the address and remembered the old Douay-Rheims version of Matthew 7:13.
Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. (Douay-Rheims Bible)
And of course Revelation 13:18
Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six. (Douay-Rheims Bible)
Of all the addresses in the whole wide world that corporation had to reside in 666 Broadway. Whoa!
Kathleen Riney says
No Worries Fr. G….A little
“Tabloid” is good for the BP! I look at it as, “Rendering to Caesar”!
The mantra of the 60’s was, “Don’t trust Anyone over 30”. This Era’s mantra should be, “Don’t bother to Talk to anyone Under 30. Simply nod & smile!”
Especially if you’re literate!
????????????
Pax Christi-
Kathleen