ST. LOUIS (MO)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
September 15, 2018
By Nassim Benchaabane
The St. Louis-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests named a new executive director Friday following a turbulent year that saw a serious legal threat and resignations of longtime leaders.
Zach Hiner, who began his eight-year career in child abuse and neglect prevention as an assistant to SNAP founder Barbara Blaine and longtime executive director David Clohessy, will take the reins Sept. 24 as head of the nation’s oldest and largest self-help group for survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
In a statement sent to SNAP members, Hiner said he was returning to the group at a “critical time.”
“Every day, more and more people are becoming aware of the realities of just how common abuse becomes when we put institutions over people, whether that institution is a church, a university, or a Hollywood studio,” said Hiner, former communications director with Prevent Child Abuse America.
“For years SNAP has led the way in providing a voice to the voiceless and I am looking forward to increasing our reach, updating our messaging and helping SNAP reach more people than we ever thought would be possible.”
Meanwhile, Clohessy, the longtime public face of SNAP, has returned as the group’s spokesman in St. Louis. He had stepped down in December 2016 after 29 years as executive director.
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