Clergy Members Allege Leaks in Sexual Abuse Probe

By Angela Couloumbis and Liz Navratil
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
September 5, 2018

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2018/09/05/Clergy-members-allege-leaks-in-sexual-abuse-probe/stories/201809050208

A lawyer for a group of unnamed clergy members alleges in a new court filing that the state Attorney General’s Office leaked grand jury material and engaged in a relentless media campaign that irrevocably deprived them of their due-process rights.

In a 95-page brief filed with the state Supreme Court this week, attorney Justin Danilewitz alleged that the leaks “publicly revealed the identities of two” clergy members whose information is shielded from the redacted version of a state grand jury report on clergy abuse in six of the state’s eight Roman Catholic dioceses.

Citing secrecy concerns, Mr. Danilewitz did not describe the alleged leaks or to whom they were made, but wrote that he could provide the Supreme Court with additional material under seal. He did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The Attorney General’s Office said it had been diligent in keeping grand jury information private.