LOS ANGELES (CA)
Monterey Herald
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles Archdiocese cannot release summaries of files it kept on priests accused of sexually abusing children, a state appeals court ruled.
The court in its ruling Thursday sided with 26 priests who argued that the summaries should not be made public because they were prepared as part of a confidential mediation.
But the court said the church could open the actual files to the public.
''We recognize the significant public interest in the underlying subject matter of this litigation in general and of the archdiocese's knowledge of its priests' sexual conduct in particular,'' Justice Laurence D. Rubin wrote in the unanimous 2nd Appellate District Court decision. ''Our opinion should not be construed as prohibiting or restricting release of the underlying information used in the creation'' of the summaries.
The archdiocese wanted to publish the summaries on its Web site to speed the settlement of more than 500 clergy abuse claims filed against the church. Alleged victims supported releasing the summaries but believe only the full files will show that church leaders knew about the abuse and covered it up.