PARIS (AP) — French investigators have searched Catholic church offices in Lyon amid allegations that a renowned cardinal and others had covered up a priest's sexual abuse of boy scouts.

The office of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin says in a statement Wednesday that the headquarters of the Lyon diocese were searched as part of a preliminary investigation into the case, and that church officials have handed over documents "to shed light on these painful events."

Barbarin's spokesman Pierre Durieux says the search is over but would not elaborate.

Barbarin is among six church officials targeted in a case prompted by allegations that a priest had molested boy scouts in the 1980s. Barbarin, who wasn't a cardinal at the time, says he never concealed abuse by priests.