Diocese Slow to Release Records

In 2007, Rich Schoenberger and Doris Cheng handled four cases arising from clergy abuse in the San Diego Diocese. Like so many of the plaintiffs' claims, the facts of each case were tragic, involving certain problem priests sexually assaulting young girls. Even more troubling was the effort the Diocese went through, back in the 1950s and 60s, to move the problem priests from parish to parish - instead of removing them from the priesthood and turning them in to law enforcement.

On the eve of trial, and after using bankruptcy as a tactic to avoid trial, the Diocese settled all 144 cases for a total of $198.1m. While the monetary compensation was obviously a major part of the settlement, the agreement also ensured that the Diocese would be forced to turn over the personnel files for the problem priests.

As reported in the Daily Journal, however, the Diocese is now dragging its feet. Citing the terms of the settlement agreement, Diocese Chancellor Rodrigo Valdivia said that the Diocese will "assert privileges and privacy" objections to some of the disclosures.

This is an unfortunate circumstance given that one of the most important parts of the settlement was the catharsis and reckoning provided to the victims in knowing that they were not alone, and what happened to them was not their fault. Had the Diocese fired and turned in the priests who were so obviously ill-suited to their occupation, many, many individuals would have avoided life-long turmoil.