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	Archdiocese Releases More Child Abuse Records By Bill Bishop The Register-Guard April 16, 2008 http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=94046&sid=1&fid=1 The Archdiocese of Portland announced Tuesday the release of nearly 2,300 more pages of documents concerning priests accused of child sexual abuse. The release came two weeks after a mediation session between the church and attorneys for abuse victims failed to reach agreement on which documents among the approximately 10,000 pages should be released. The archdiocese released more than 350 pages of documents last June concerning priests who had multiple claims made against them. Tuesday's release brought the total number of pages released thus far to nearly 2,700. Portland lawyer Kelly Clark was one of the main negotiators for abuse victims. He said Tuesday the release was "once again, unilateral" on the part of church leaders, without notice to other involved parties. The documents are available at the web site: www.archdio?cesedocuments.org/. In a news release, Archbishop John Vlazny said he authorized release of some priests' personnel files as "part of the healing process and in the interest of transparency." However, he said some files will not be released, specifically those where only one accusation was made against a priest and where the priest is dead. "The release of personnel files in such uncertain circumstances would serve no proper goal," he said. Other documents are not being released because living priests and former priests object to the disclosures, have hired attorneys and are asking a judge to block release of the records, the archbishop said. Files that may reveal identities of victims also are not being released, he said. "We have made what we believe is a fair decision on document disclosure based on sound guiding principles and will continue on this course," Vlazny said. Nevertheless, he said, he expects criticism from lawyers for abuse victims who have pushed for full disclosure of all the documents. Clark, who has had access to virtually all the documents but is barred by a court order from releasing them, said it will take considerable effort to determine which documents have been kept secret, and the importance of those documents in understanding the church's dealings with abusive priests. Clark and Portland lawyer Erin Olson are stillpushing for further document releases through an arbitration process next month, and through a hearing in federal bankruptcy court set for Sept. 30. In his statement, Vlazny said almost all the abuse incidents occurred between 1940 and the mid-1980s. He said the Archdiocese of Portland now has comprehensive child-protection policies and programs in place and will continue to emphasize child safety.
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