Judge Rules LA Archdiocese Must Release Names of Accused Priests

Sexual abuse allegations in documents reach back decades

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles must release the names of church leaders and pedophile priests identified in thousands of pages of internal documents recounting sexual abuse allegations dating back decades, a judge ruled Monday.

The decision by Superior Court Judge Emilie Elias overturned much of a 2011 order by another judge that would have allowed the archdiocese to black out the names of church higher-ups.

Victims, as well as The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times, argued for the names to be public.