A wave of fresh accusations against Roman Catholic priests has reportedly been unleashed in New York state because of a new state law that eases limits on who can file legal action — and an ongoing probe of pedophile priests by the state Attorney General.
According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, what might the first of a slew of new lawsuits was filed in Buffalo last week under the new Child Victims Act, and seeks $300 million for a single victim.
At the same time, the state Attorney General's probe of pedophile priests launched last September has given investigators access to private diocesan records that will document still more instances of sexual misconduct — and might reveal past efforts by church officials to shield abusive clergy from discovery, the news outlet reported.
According to the news outlet, the most complete list of Catholic clergy who engaged in sexual misconduct may ultimately emerge. The office plans to name abusive priests in the same way Pennsylvania did in its historic first investigation by a state attorney general, according to Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley.
Leander James, who has spent decades trying to wrest documents from the church, told the news outlet he believes investigators likely have obtained "sub-secreto" files — the papers kept under lock and key in each diocese that document abuse by clergy and church officials' handling of it.
These records, James told the news outlet, are what will make the state investigation a "game-changer."
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