San Francisco, Calif., Oct 13, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The files of Catholic priests, accused of sexual abuse, should be made public, a California judge said in a tentative ruling Oct. 12.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sabraw said the content of the employment files "is a matter of public concern and interest and outweighs privacy interests of the defendants," reported The Associated Press.
The names of the defendants and alleged victims, background information on the plaintiffs, and Church administrative records should be made public, but medical and psychiatric records would remain confidential, he said.
The order applies to the 160 consolidated civil cases, involving 40 priests, against Northern California dioceses.