SNAP Worked with Plaintiffs" Lawyers against Church, Court Documents Show

Catholic Culture
January 23, 2012

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=13069

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has cooperated with plaintiffs’ lawyers in publicity campaigns against the Catholic Church, charges The Media Report.

In a Missouri case, the lawyers for an accused priest have persuaded the court to subpoena documents from SNAP and require testimony from the group’s executive director, David Clohessy. Documents filed by the accused priest’s lawyers show that public statements issued by SNAP show that the group had prior knowledge of the plaintiff lawyer’s plans. The court had forbidden lawyers from issuing their own public statements. The priest’s lawyers charged: “Plaintiff’s counsel, in violation of this court’s prior Order precluding extrajudicial statements, has assisted SNAP in issuing press releases that prejudice both Father Tierney and the Diocese.”

SNAP’s public statements showed an insider’s knowledge of the plaintiff lawyer’s plans, the court documents show. On one occasion SNAP issued a detailed press release about a lawsuit before the suit was filed.

The connections between SNAP and plaintiffs' lawyers were the main reason why the Missouri court ordered the group's testimony--a decision that has now been upheld by the state's highest court.