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  Group Urges Release of Church Documents

Associated Press, carried in San Gabriel Valley Tribune [California]
July 26, 2005

An advocacy group for victims of sexual abuse by clergy called on the Los Angeles Archdiocese on Tuesday not to appeal an order to release records on two priests who are being investigated by grand juries.

An appellate panel on Monday upheld an earlier decision that certain subpoenaed records regarding alleged child molestation by the priests should be turned over to a grand jury.

Now the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is asking the Archdiocese to comply with the 2nd District Court of Appeal's decision and release the documents rather than continue to appeal the ruling.

"Just once, it would be so healing and refreshing to see (Cardinal Roger) Mahony turn down a chance to fight for continued secrecy,' said Mary Grant, SNAP's western regional director.

Archdiocese spokesman Tod Tamberg said the church is only asking to withhold a handful of documents, about 15 out of 230.

"Nothing in these pages has had any effect on prosecutors to pursue their cases,' he said.

As to whether the Archdiocese will appeal, he added, "We're examining what we're going to do next. We don't agree with the court's decision.'

The priests had asked the court not to release any of the documents.

Among the documents ordered released were a status report on a priest's progress in therapy and a discussion about follow-up care for a priest after he completed psychotherapy. The documents do not include significant medical records, according to the appellate panel's opinion.

In its opinion, Presiding Justice Joan D. Klein wrote that religious freedoms hold a special place in U.S. history and culture but "there also must be an accommodation by religious believers and institutions to the rules of civil society, particularly when the state's compelling interest in protecting children is in question.'

The three-judge panel did, however, agree to withhold one memo it ruled fell under the psychotherapist-patient privilege.

Whatever the outcome in court, Tamberg said it was wrong to link the legal cases with the church's current policy against child abuse.

"That's disinformation and it's just plain wrong,' he said. "The church has verifiably removed credibly accused priests from ministries.'