(CN) - A group of 25 alleged victims of sexual abuse by Franciscan clergymen are entitled to see psychiatric and other confidential records in the clergy's possession, a California appeals court ruled.
In the settlement of the case, both parties asked the court to determine whether it was appropriate to release the files of the six friars who were accused of the crimes.
"We hold that compelling social interests in protecting children from molestation outweigh the individual friars' privacy rights," Justice Elizabeth Grimes wrote for the Los Angeles-based 2nd District Court of Appeals.
Categories:Uncategorized
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Additional Reads
-
Nebraska AG finds 258 victims of Catholic church sex abuse November 4, 2021 -
-
Disgraced Catholic Order Told Abuse Victim to Lie February 17, 2020 -
Bishop Who Probed Sex Abuse Accused of Sex Abuse November 14, 2019