SAN DIEGO (CA)
Contra Costa Times
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO - A federal judge has rejected the Roman Catholic Church's effort to strike down a state law that allows lawsuits by people who claim they were abused by priests long ago.
The San Diego diocese had argued that the 2002 law illegally interfered with its religious practices.
"The failure to supervise or negligent hiring of a person that commits sexual assault does not implicate or affect any religious belief, opinion or practice," U.S. District Court Judge William Q. Hayes wrote in a ruling made public Thursday.
Attorney J. Michael Hennigan, who represents the San Diego diocese Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, said the church is "strongly considering an appeal."