Amy Coney Barrett’s father is now legal counsel for controversial far-right fundamentalist group

When Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020, her participation in the far-right Christian group People of Praise received a great deal of scrutiny.

People of Praise, which has been dogged by sexual abuse allegations, favor a severe, ultra-strict form of Catholicism that incorporates elements of evangelical fundamentalist Protestantism. Most members are Catholic, although Protestants are also allowed to join.

According to The Guardian's Stephanie Kirchgaessner, Justice Barrett's father, Louisiana-based attorney Michael Coney, is now serving as legal counsel for People of Praise.

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"Coney is also taking the helm of a 'consultation team' that, internal correspondence seen by the Guardian shows, has been dealing with 'issues of concern' to the group's 1100 members, including 'misuse of authority' inside the PoP, 'lack of accountable leadership,' and 'mistrust of the board,'" Kirchgaessner explains in an article published on January 29. "Coney's appointment is part of a broader shake-up inside the PoP, whose leadership has been consumed by a contentious debate over the legitimacy of the 2021 election of its current leader, Charlie Fraga. Known as the 'overall coordinator,' Fraga has said the bitter fight has emerged as an 'urgent threat to the unity of the community.'"

Kirchgaessner continues, "For survivors of alleged childhood sexual and physical abuse inside the PoP, Coney's elevation is deeply troubling. PoP Survivors, as the group is known, has, for years, called for the PoP to be investigated and held accountable for its handling of historic claims of abuse."

People of Praise Survivors, a group consisting of ex-members, is vehemently critical of the decision to hire Michael Coney as legal counsel. Coney is a long-time member who worked for Shell in the past.

A spokesperson for People of Praise Survivors told The Guardian, "Elevating Amy Coney Barrett's father to a position where he can influence what goes public is a huge conflict of interest. It gives him the power to block information that might be embarrassing to her. Yet public scrutiny is exactly what’s needed in order to protect children in the group."

READ MORE: FBI interviews ex-members of extreme Christian group associated with Amy Coney Barrett

Read The Guardian's full report at this link.