Implementing a 2006 settlement with 25 victims in a clergy sexual abuse case, yesterday a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the Franciscans to release hundreds of pages of personnel files and other documents. AP reports that Judge Peter D. Lichtman ordered the release to be made within 21 days, after ruling on specific documents where objections to public release were raised. It is expected that the documents will reveal when the Catholic order learned of the alleged abuse and how it dealt with those accused.
UPDATE: According to an April 30 report by Canadian Press, the the Franciscan Friars of California Inc. have filed an appeal of the order to release these documents.
