Bridgeport Bishop William A. Lori has reportedly told his priests that "prudence dictates" that the diocese should prepare for a refusal by the Supreme Court to allow the diocese's request to keep clergy sex abuse files sealed. The request was passed on earlier this month to the full court by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, NCR Online reports.
The diocese, in that request, was appealing a ruling by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had denied the diocese's appeal of earlier state court rulings ordering that the documents be released.
The files will remained sealed at least until the full court reviews the request Sept. 29 and decides to either hear the case in its session that begins in October or to vacate the diocese's request, in effect releasing the documents.
As part of the preparation, Lori is asking priests to prepare an overview of all the diocese has done to protect children to be presented.
Bishop Lori told the priests that he has vigorously fought release of the documents primarily because they contain the names of a number of "John Doe" priests who were wrongly accused.
Lori and lawyers retained by the diocese who attended today's meeting said a review of the cases found that they were groundless.
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