Los Angeles, Calif., May 18, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Diocesan personnel files of 15 priests and teachers indicate that officials of the Diocese of Orange in Southern California moved pedophile priests between parishes for two decades, reported Reuters.
A Los Angeles judge ordered the files released on Tuesday as part of a $100-million settlement, reached in January between the Diocese of Orange and 90 alleged victims of abuse.
Five of the priests are dead. The 10 other priests and teachers raised no objection.
"As a compassionate Church, we did not do right by those who suffered,” said Bishop Tod Brown of Orange. He was appointed bishop in 1998, after most of the alleged abuse had taken place.