Los Angeles, USA - A state appellate court has ordered Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony to turn over internal church records of two former priests accused of sexually abusing children to a grand jury.
The Second District Court of Appeal yesterday upheld a previous judge's decision that the church documents involving allegations of clergy sexual abuse should be released to the grand jury. The three-judge panel rejected arguments by the Los Angeles Archdiocese that it was constitutionally protected from having to disclose documents from Roman Catholic priest personnel files.
In a 49-page opinion, the court acknowledged the special place of religious freedom _ but found that there must be accommodations to civil rules particularly when the state has a compelling interest to protect children.
Lawyers for Mahony and the priests _ whose names have not been made public _ said they expect to appeal
The ruling is part of a three-year legal battle over the disclosure of church documents sought by prosecutors investigating clergy sexual abuse.