Cardinal ordered to release files on accused priests

[Dookus]

http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/ktla-090804priest_lat,0,7142328.story?coll=ktla-news-1

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony was ordered today to turn over documents in the secret personnel files of Roman Catholic priests accused of sexually abusing children after a judge rejected his claim that prosecutors were interfering with Roman Catholic Church operations, in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Nuss ruled that disclosing internal documents to criminal investigators doesn't violate the ability of the church to freely exercise religion, nor does it illegally entangle the state in church business. Rather, the state has a compelling interest in prosecuting child molesters, he ruled.

Mahony's lawyers — who have waged a fierce, 2-year legal battle behind closed doors to keep the subpoenaed documents secret — have vowed to appeal Nuss' ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

Those hardball tactics were criticized this year by an independent Catholic national review board that found that Mahony's legal "argument did little to enhance the reputation of the church in the United States for transparency and cooperation."
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TWO years fighting this?!?! Is the church TRYING to alienate all of America? They oughtta put this putz in jail for obstruction of justice.