Catholic Church Loses Fight Over Sealed Papers

The Roman Catholic Church was rebuffed by the U.S. Supreme Court in its effort to keep sex abuse scandal related documents sealed from public and journalist view. I feel no sympathy and suspect that the unsealed documents will likely show that members of the Church hierarchy knew more than they pretend and acted in unconscionable ways in closing their eyes to the abuse of minors. The more sunlight that is allowed to shine on the Church's institutional rot, the better. Only full exposure and open public disgusts have any chance of forcing the Church to undertake the housecleaning and restructuring that it so desperately needs. Here are some highlights from the Wall Street Journal:

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The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the release of thousands of pages of sealed documents concerning sexual abuse by priests in the Catholic diocese of Bridgeport, Conn. The court's decision Monday effectively lifts a stay that has delayed the release of the documents since 2006, when four newspapers persuaded a Connecticut court to unseal them.

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The materials were filed in 23 lawsuits against the Catholic diocese by parishioners during the 1990s, alleging that the church failed to supervise its priests and reassigned those suspected of abusing children. The cases were settled in 2001, as the Catholic abuse scandal grew in national prominence. The sealed documents are said to include transcripts of depositions of church officials, including Cardinal Edward Egan, and files from the investigation of priests accused of abuse during the 1960s and 1970s.

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A Connecticut judge scheduled a hearing for Nov. 9 on unsealing the documents. The case demonstrates the diocese's failure to "take appropriate action to protect innocent children from priests that it knew to be sexual predators," Dan Sullivan, the co-chairman of the Bridgeport affiliate of Voices of the Faithful, an advocate for victims of sex abuse by clergy, said in a statement.

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Bishop Lori said the diocese was concerned "about the impact that these court decisions will have on our First Amendment rights, to determine who is or is not fit to become a priest, and that applies to all religions.

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I'm sorry, but I suspect that the only thing that Bishop Lori is really worried about is how disgusted the Catholic laity may be when it discovers the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of the "princes" of the Church who cared nothing about the lives and safety of children and youths. As a parent, I continue to be repulsed by the unconscionable conduct of the bishops, cardinals and Popes involved in the protection and cover up for predator priests.