KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The man who has been the face of a national organization advocating for victims of abuse by clergy, especially those in the Catholic Church, has resigned from the organization.

The Kansas City Star reports that David Clohessy of suburban St. Louis voluntarily resigned Dec. 31 from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP.

The organization announced Clohessy’s resignation this week, days after a former employee filed a lawsuit claiming SNAP was exploiting sexual abuse victims and receiving kickbacks from attorneys for directing clients their way.

Clohessy called the case “preposterous” and said his resignation was unrelated to the lawsuit.