-Caveat Lector- Court orders Phoenix Diocese to turn over files in abuse scandal http://www.arizonarepublic.com/arizona/articles/0208priest08.html By Joseph A. Reaves
The Arizona Republic Feb. 8, 2003 The state Court of Appeals ruled Friday that the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix must turn over to a grand jury nearly 2,300 records and documents. The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel upholds an earlier decision by Judge Eddward Ballinger of the Maricopa County Superior Court, who examined about 3,500 documents and decided that most of them should be handed over. Special report • Priest scandals' Arizona impact "The church has repeatedly indicated it wants to cooperate," said County Attorney Rick Romley. "We ask that they turn over the documents as quickly as possible without further appeals." The diocese could appeal to the state Supreme Court. Calls to diocesan attorney Jim Belanger and church spokeswoman Kim Sue Lia Perkes were unreturned Friday. Romley and the diocese have been at odds for months about the level of cooperation with a grand jury investigating sexual abuse allegations by church employees. Church attorneys claim they are cooperating fully. Romley insists they are stalling. The dispute centers on client-attorney privilege. In 1994, the Arizona Legislature granted greater client-attorney privileges to corporations facing civil lawsuits. Lawmakers did not apply those broader privileges to criminal matters. Ballinger ruled on New Year's Eve that the stricter standards applied to the church files, as the grand jury is investigating criminal matters. Church attorneys argued that the broader privileges should apply. In Friday's decision, Appeals Court Judge Patrick Irvine said the Legislature was clear when it changed the law for civil cases and purposefully allowed for tighter restrictions. Also Friday, sentencing was delayed until March 5 for former Valley priest John Maurice Giandelone. He pleaded guilty to molesting a teenage boy more than two decades ago and is cooperating with a grand jury investigation how the Phoenix Diocese handled allegations of sexual misconduct. • Community • Obituaries • Traffic Info • AZ Neighbors Republic Front Page | Local | Sports Arizona Living | Business | Opinions Subscribe to The Republic Terms of Service Help Center | About us Copyright 2003, The Arizona Republic. All rights reserved Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sut <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
