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Shapiro Files Objection To Court's Stay Of Clergy Abuse Report

Fernando Lavoz
/
AP
The Catholic Church officiates a reconciliation mass which seeks to bring together all sectors of the community that had become divided since a sex abuse scandal in the church.

State Attorney General Josh Shapiro plans to file an objection Monday to the state Supreme Court over its decision not to release a sweeping grand jury report on child abuse in six Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania.

Justices stayed the report after appeals by individuals named in it.

In an explanation, they wrote that their decision was based on the need to review a number of appeals from people named in the report’s hundreds of pages.

It’s not clear who exactly those people are.

But justices have said the appeals allege their naming “unconstitutionally infringes on their right to reputation and denies them due process.”

Shapiro’s office initially accepted a short delay.

But now, the AG is saying he doesn’t want to wait any longer.  

In a statement, his office said, “In acting on Monday, we are hopeful the Court will expeditiously decide these issues and lift the stay.”

They added, “The people of Pennsylvania have a right to see the report, know who is attempting to block its release and why, and to hear the voices of the victims of sexual abuse within the Church.” 

In their original stay, justices had left open an option for appeal.  

The grand jury report on six of the commonwealth’s eight Catholic dioceses is expected to be one of the broadest in the country.