Meanest Men on Earth

By John Moynihan
The Patch
March 8, 2012

http://swampscott.patch.com/blog_posts/meanest-men-on-earth

It was just a little over 10 years ago when the Boston Globe began publishing the series of articles on the Priest Abuse Scandal that rocked the Catholic Church and won a Pulitzer Prize for the Globe. Ten years ago you probably were convinced that the Catholic Bishops were the meanest men on earth. But ten years have past and you probably don’t give the bishops much thought today.

Let me tell you something — they still are the MEANEST MEN ON EARTH. This time their target is not young boys but the organization that has taken those survivors in, has helped to bring dignity, sanity and justice to those who have been abused. Several of them have been Swampscott residents.

Since long before the Globe began reporting their stories, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has been in 24/7 service to the survivors (“don’t call me a victim” one survivor once told me). Just as SNAP’s work is going global with the lurid stories of abuse coming from all over the world, the Catholic Bishops of the Dioceses of Kansas City and St. Louis have begun legal actions designed to shut down SNAP.

In a recent email to supporters, Barbara Blaine, SNAP’s President wrote:

“Catholic officials are desperately trying to conceal their wrong-doing by attacking victims. They're trying to silence victims, and others, by trying to severely weaken SNAP. In October, SNAP Director David Clohessy was served with a subpoena in Kansas City by church defense lawyers. They demanded emails, correspondence and other records (some going back 23 years) including deeply private conversations with victims, their names and the details of the abuse they suffered.

“Last month, Clohessy and SNAP Outreach Director Barbara Dorris were hit with more subpoenas, this time from the St. Louis archdiocese. Naturally our first concern was, and remains, the privacy of victims, most of whom never have or never will speak publicly or take any kind of legal action. We also quickly realized, however, that these wide-ranging demands also sought communications between SNAP and thousands of other individuals we help: family members, witnesses, whistleblowers, journalists, therapists, concerned Catholics and law enforcement officials. Our first duty is to those who seek and sought our guidance. For that reason, we fought tooth and nail to keep David from having to testify. Ultimately, we lost that fight. David was deposed. But he adamantly refused to give any names or private details about victims. And we're refusing to turn over any documents with similar information.

“The ramifications of these actions have already hit SNAP hard. Owing to massive legal bills which we cannot pay at this time, we have been forced to ask our attorney in Kansas City to withdraw from the case. The fact is we can no longer afford to pay him and still keep the lights on. We are seeking pro-bono help as the case moves forward and will update you as to our progress. Meanwhile in Kansas City, attorneys for the Catholic Church have moved forward with a "Motion to Compel" SNAP Director, David Clohessy to reveal private information about members and victims connected with SNAP and the case against Father Joseph Tierney. We will not reveal any of the information the church is requesting. The privacy of our survivors and members is absolutely paramount! So, David is preparing himself and his family as he faces jail time if necessary.

Over two decades ago, we in SNAP pledged ourselves to protect and help victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, police, prosecutors, journalists, in fact anyone who was working to stop and expose child sex crimes and cover ups. That promise has not and will not be broken, no matter what forces are arrayed against us. The fact that we have been so successful is the chief reason that we now find ourselves in this painful and threatening situation. However it is one we shall win.”