September 29, 2005

Archdiocese to release documents on priests

DUBUQUE (IA)
Des Moines Register

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque will turn over more than 200 documents about priests named in three sexual abuse lawsuits.

The priests are accused of sexually abusing young people from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Federal magistrate John Jarvey will review the documents to determine whether they can be used in the lawsuits, a court order issued last week said.

Waterloo attorneys Chad Swanson and Tom Staack asked the court to compel the diocese to turn over the documents. The diocese objected, citing protections under the First Amendment, the Iowa Constitution, victim privacy and third-party privileges.

Posted by kshaw at September 29, 2005 09:07 AM