BishopAccountability.org
	Records on Priests Sex Abuse Cases Could Be Released This Month By Edmund H. Mahony The Hartford Courant July 7, 2009 http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-priest_abuse_court_07-6jul07,0,5591597.story HARTFORD - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport is considering a dwindling number of legal options, including a U.S. Supreme Court appeal, after the state's high court refused to reconsider a ruling that would make public thousands of pages of documents that detail alleged sexual abuse by priests. The state Supreme Court released an order Monday denying a diocese request for an opportunity to restate its arguments against unsealing more than 12,000 pages of court records involving lawsuits against its priests. "The diocese has received the order and is considering its options," Ralph W. Johnson III, the lawyer representing the diocese said Monday. The state Supreme Court's denial of the church's request for reconsideration means the thousands of pages of depositions, exhibits and legal arguments involving 23 lawsuits against seven priests could become public, possibly later this month. Johnson declined to say what options the diocese is considering to keep the files sealed. But other lawyers said the church may be limited to a U.S. Supreme Court appeal. Such an appeal might not keep the files sealed. And the likelihood of the U.S. Supreme Court taking a priest abuse case is remote. By refusing to reconsider the case, the state Supreme Court's 4-1 decision to unseal the documents stands. The documents have been sealed since the diocese settled the suits against the seven priests in 2001. A number of news organizations, including The Courant, are seeking to make the material public. Unless the diocese succeeds in a new effort to keep the materials sealed, they could become public as early as July 20, according to the legal rules in force in state appellate courts.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.