Judge rules redacted briefs in church sex abuse investigation should be made public

By Matthew Stevens
WJACTV
July 20, 2018

https://wjactv.com/news/local/judge-rules-redacted-briefs-in-church-sex-abuse-investigation-should-be-made-public

A Cambria County judge entered a ruling Friday that redacted briefs into child sex abuse allegations made against six state Catholic dioceses should be made public.

EBENSBURG, Pa. - A Cambria County judge entered a ruling Friday that redacted briefs into child sex abuse allegations made against six state Catholic dioceses should be made public.

In his opinion, Judge Norman Krumenacker said, "The information in the report is no longer protected by grand jury secrecy as the Grand Jury intended it to be released to the public in an expeditious manner."

The ruling comes after a July 6 state Supreme Court order asking attorneys on both sides to present their argument on their stance on the redacted briefs being made public. “Today, Judge Krumenacker ruled in favor of the Commonwealth and victims that our brief should be made public," said PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

“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.”

Krumenacker said in his posted opinion that the only roadblock in releasing the report is the June 20 order by the Supreme Court that put on stay on the public release.

Shapiro announced earlier in this year that he was planning on releasing the report in June.

Publicly, the six dioceses, including the Diocese of Erie supported the release of the report.

Attorneys fighting to stop the report argue that the information in it is full or errors and improper assertions.