SNAP ordered to turn over documentation in abuse lawsuit

• SNAP
• SNAP director David Clohessy says he wants SNAP records to remain private.

Catholic dioceses and priests accused by people alleging they were abused as children earned a legal victory Monday when the Missouri Supreme Court let stand a judge’s decision to force Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP) to turn over documentation to defense lawyers in a civil case accusing a St. Joseph priest of abuse.

The Associated Press reports that attorneys for the Rev. Michael Tierney and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph requested thousands of pages of records and e-mails from SNAP because they suspect the alleged victim’s lawyers leaked information to SNAP. On Monday the state Supreme Court chose not to intervene on SNAP’s behalf. But the group’s director, David Clohessy, told the AP that he will fight to keep the organization’s records private.