By Leana Orsua
KSBY [California]
June 19, 2007
http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=6682855
Santa Barbara
The personnel records for a group of Santa Barbara priests convicted of sexual molestation will become open to the public.
Here is the latest.
Monday, a Los Angeles judge ordered portions of the personnel files of 10 priests be disclosed to the public.
The ruling is the second component of a $28 million settlement reached a year ago.
It has been in court since last August.
The ruling gives victims and their families a chance to see exactly how their abuse was handled by the Franciscan hierarchy.
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Some of who are still believed to be working in churches today.
In its 30 years of operation, more than 20 boys attending the private Santa Barbara High School fell victim to sexual abuse.
One of the victims was Ray Higgins son.
"It is not just inappropriate touching or inappropriate conduct as many of the catholic hierarchy like to say that it was," said Ray Higgins, a father of a sexual abuse victim.
Tucked inside the files are the personnel records of 10 former Franciscan friars.
Mike Higgins abuser is one of them.
In a court ruling Monday, a L.A. judge ordered the files to be opened to the public.
"It is a tremendous victory for these victims because in the past settlements we have not even gotten to this point," said attorney Timothy Hale.
Tim Hale is an attorney who has spent the last nine years fighting the Franciscans in court.
He said the ruling proves the state is making strides in protecting children from falling victim to future abuse.
"Just having the courts become more familiar with how pervasive this problem is and how damaging this abuse is," said Hale.
For Ray Higgins, the ruling has been a long time coming.
"It affirms what we've been saying for many years that this is a very serious situation," said Higgins.
Hale said the purpose of opening the records is purely for victims and their families to gain access to the information.
They hope to see if there may be others in the Franciscan order who may be accountable.
The attorney for the Franciscan friars was unavailable for comment.
While the judge ruled that the public has the right to gain access to the personnel files, it may not happen immediately.
There is still more legal maneuvering in the weeks and months ahead.
Contact: Leana Orsua lorsua@ksby.com
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