The Portland Catholic Archdiocese Priest Abuse Document Archive

Portland Archdiocese to release documents related to sex abuse claims

Posted April 17, 2008

The move is part of the Catholic Church’s bankruptcy reorganization plan

By Ryan Geddes
LocalNewsDaily.com
Apr 17, 2007

The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon plans to release to the public internal documents about church personnel accused of child abuse over the last 50 years as part of its recently approved bankruptcy settlement, church officials and lawyers for sex abuse claimants announced Tuesday.

On Friday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris confirmed the Oregon Catholic Church’s proposed Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan, which was filed in 2004 after a wave of child sex abuse claims filed against priests and other church employees. That agreement calls for the court to approve about $50 million in settlements and to establish a fund for future payouts of about $20 million.

Tuesday’s announcement went a step further, approving the release of what claimants’ lawyers say are previously secret documents detailing accused pedophile priests’ activities. Initial releases will comprise "several dozen" documents on fewer than 12 priests, lawyers said, but in the future could become a "virtually comprehensive release of the archives of the past."

The documents are scheduled to be released in May.

"Now, for the first time, we have reached an historic agreement with the Archbishop, his lawyers, and representatives of the parishes that will lead to the release of significant historic documents and files concerning child abuse over the last half-century in this Church, secret archives of secret crimes and secret shame will be made public for the community to see and understand," said attorney Kelly Clark in a statement Tuesday.

Clark has represented victims of alleged church sex abuse for 15 years. Kelly and other victims’ attorneys praised the announcement, made at the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Portland Tuesday afternoon.

"We are especially pleased by Archbishop Vlazny’s decision to renounce the secrecy and protectiveness of the past and agree to the public release of a substantial portion of the personnel records of offending priests," said attorney David Slader, who also represents abuse claimants. "A policy of openness and transparency will go far toward preventing future tragedies."

In December 2006, U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan announced that more than 150 people who said they were sexually abused by Oregon priests had settled their civil lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Portland, a development that paved the way for last week’s approved bankruptcy reorganization plan and Tuesday’s records announcement.

"It is my sincere prayer that our ability to compensate the many victims will assist them in their efforts to achieve personal healing and peace of heart," Archbishop John Vlazny said at Tuesday’s news conference. "As we Catholics throughout this scandal have learned much about child abuse, it is my sincere desire that these lessons will not have to be repeated in any other forum."

Frank Lenzi of AM 860 KPAM contributed to this report

Portland Archdiocese Sex Abuse Case

Posted April 16, 2008

April 16, 2008
KOIN 6 News
www.Koin.com

Portland archdiocese suddenly releases personnel files on abusive priests

Posted April 16, 2008

Portland, Apr. 16, 2008 (CWNews.com) – The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, has released thousands of documents related to sex-abuse accusations against Catholic priests, in an unscheduled step that caught victims’ lawyers by surprise.

Archbishop John Vlazny, who had previously resisted the release of personnel files, said that the sudden move to make public more than 20,000 documents was "part of the healing process."

The Portland archdiocese was the first Catholic see in the US to seek bankruptcy protection. In a 2007 settlement with sex-abuse victims, ending the bankruptcy process, the archdiocese agreed to release the files of priests who had molested children. But Archbishop Vlazny had argued for a restrictive interpretation of the agreement, saying that it was essential to maintain confidentiality in documents in order to protect both innocent priests and the victims of abusive clerics. Lawyers for the archdiocese had been sparring with victims’ lawyers over the number of documents to be made public until the eve of the massive disclosure.

Archdiocese of Portland releases priest files

Posted April 16, 2008

The News Review
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

PORTLAND (AP) — A year after the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Portland settled its bankruptcy case for about $50 million, it has released more of its files on priests accused of sex abuse — including some confidential personnel records.

The documents were expected to be released shortly after the settlement. But negotiations over the release stalled, sending the church and lawyers for the victims back to federal bankruptcy court.

An attorney for some of the alleged abuse victims criticized the latest release as piecemeal and said the archdiocese failed to provide any explanation or tie the documents together in a meaningful way for victims or the public.

“This is not the way to do it,” said Kelly Clark. “This is how you do it if you want to frustrate that purpose.”

Clark also said that releasing the documents out of context makes it look like the church did not find out about the alleged abuse in many cases until much later than it actually received complaints.

Mediation sessions on the release have been continuing before both sides were scheduled to head to U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan to ask for a decision. Hogan was one of two judges who mediated the settlement.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris sealed most of the documents after the archdiocese became the first Catholic diocese in the nation to file for bankruptcy protection in July 2004.

She has scheduled hearings for arguments on lifting her order but is not expected to rule until October.

Archbishop John Vlazny says he authorized the release of about 2,000 pages of additional documents on Tuesday as “part of the healing process and in the interest of transparency.”