Santa Barbara News Network
July 26, 2010
http://www.thesbnn.com/?p=11524
SANTA BARBARA – 8:30 pm – The fight over the public’s access to the personnel files of Santa Barbara Franciscan priests in the sex abuse scandal, returns to court this week.
The case will be heard Friday, July 30, in the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles.
It’s been four years since the despicable acts at St. Anthony’s Seminary, from 1964 to 1987, captured the media’s attention.
 |
Part of the reason it’s fallen off the radar is that two dozen victims reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the church.
The other, and perhaps, more disturbing reason, is the Franciscans’ determination fight access to the records.
Santa Barbara attorney Tim Hale represents victims.
Hale told THESBNN.COM if the judge rules in favor of the public’s right to know, again, it would be precedent-setting.
But it is a ruling that will likely mean more attempts by the priests to keep the information sealed, in a battle that’s been hard fought on both sides.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.