Alleged Victims of Priests Cannot Shield Documents

By Joe Harris
Courthouse News Service
August 16, 2012

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/08/16/49362.htm

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CN) - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests may not shield certain documents from an accused priest's attorney, the Missouri Supreme Court Ruled.

The state's high court on Tuesday upheld a Jackson County judge's order granting the document request.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will have to release those records.

Defense attorneys argued that documents held by SNAP could raise doubts about repressed memories and whether a gag order was violated.

Attorneys for SNAP claimed that disclosing the records would violate the privacy of alleged victims and discourage others from complaining.