Judge Unseals Ag's Argument in the Catholic Sex Abuse Scandal

By Melissa Klaric
The Herald
July 20, 2018

http://www.sharonherald.com/news/judge-unseals-ag-s-argument-in-the-catholic-sex-abuse/article_eff23442-8c4e-11e8-a9cc-ffef87922b2b.html

In this file photo from July 3, 2017, Norman Krumenacker, Cambria County president judge, talks in his chambers at the Cambria County Courthouse. Krumenacker issued an order Friday to make a legal document in the Catholic church sex abuse case public.

Victims are one step closer to vindication after a ruling today that made public the state attorney general's argument to unseal a grand jury report detailing child sex abuse within the Catholic Church.

Just minutes ago, the brief filed last week by the Office of Attorney General Josh Shapiro was posted. The brief cites similar cases in which the court decided to make public the identities of people who are named in a grand jury report, but who have not been indicted.

Judge Norman A. Krumenacker, who oversaw the grand jury that for two years investigated child sex abuse allegations spanning several decades within the Erie, Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Scranton, Harrisburg and Allentown dioceses, issued the order to make the legal document public.

An 884-page report detailing the grand jury findings was to be released at the end of June, but was held up by unidentified petitioners who are named in the report and claim releasing the documen without redacting their names is a violation of their constitutional rights, according to court documents.

"Today, Judge Krumenacker ruled in favor of the Commonwealth and victims that our brief should be made public," Shapiro stated in a press release. “Our office continues to fight to ensure this report is released and victims’ voices are heard by the people of Pennsylvania. This marks an important step in that process.”