SNAP fights court-ordered disclosure of its own internal documents
January 02, 2012
In an odd reversal of roles, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is fighting against court-ordered disclosure of the group’s internal documents.
David Clohessy, the director of SNAP, has been ordered by a Missouri court to turn over documents and correspondence relating to the case of Father Michael Tierney, a priest who faces sex-abuse charges. Lawyers for the accused priest argue that a plaintiff’s lawyer violated a gag order by providing information about the case to SNAP.
Clohessy, who has routinely insisted that Catholic diocesan officials should disclose all available information about sex-abuse allegations, has fought against the disclosure of SNAP’s internal documents. Claiming that the release of those documents could have a “chilling effect” on sex-abuse victims, he has appealed the court’s order to furnish documents and provide testimony in the Tierney case.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- SNAP director may be forced to testify in abuse case (National Catholic Reporter)
- Victims' group must reveal records in priest case (Kansas City Star)
- SNAP Hypocrisy Shocker: SNAP’s Clohessy Fights Court-Ordered Deposition (The Media Report)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: -
Jan. 03, 2012 7:23 PM ET USA
Sirs: It's sad, in a way, to find that an organization that claims to represent the victims of egregious wrongs by the very people whom they most trusted, may in fact, be little more than another opportunistic band of lawyers how have found little more than the deep pockets of an another repentant organization (our holy Catholic Church). As we all know, Christ's Church is perfect but we, the members, are far short of perfect. SNAP is apparently not just after a few priests but all of us!
-
Posted by: annemarie -
Jan. 02, 2012 10:35 PM ET USA
If SNAP’s true mission is to protect and defend victims of sexual abuse, it should be able to withstand scrutiny by a court. I suspect, however, that SNAP has much to hide. Having seen SNAP ‘in action,' I am convinced that it is NOT concerned about an accused priest’s guilt or innocence. Could it be that SNAP’s endgame is undermining God in society? The centralized Catholic Church, with its politically-correct bishops, has become a favorite, easy target. Lord, have mercy!
-
Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Jan. 02, 2012 8:01 PM ET USA
I continue to contend that SNAP and similar juridical persons have as their goal the destruction of the Catholic Church. Nothing they do or say gives evidence otherwise.
