LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Franciscans have asked California's high court to review an appeals court decision ordering them to make public the confidential files of friars accused of sex abuse.
Brian Brosnahan, an attorney for the Franciscans, says the Roman Catholic religious order filed the petition Monday.
That puts on hold any release of internal church documents while the high court considers whether to hear the case.
Twenty-five plaintiffs settled lawsuits for $28.4 million in 2006, and the agreement called for the release of confidential files.
Most of the accused friars, however, did not sign the settlement agreement.
A trial judge ruled that the public interest outweighed the friars' privacy rights, but six of the friars appealed.
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