Judge orders Vatican to show files in abuse case

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon has ruled that the Vatican must respond to certain requests for information from a man who says he was molested by a priest in the 1960s.

The man known in court documents as John V. Doe filed suit eight years ago. He seeks to hold the Vatican liable for the abuse he says he suffered from the Rev. Andrew Ronan, who died in 1992.

U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman ruled Thursday that Doe is entitled to limited discovery related to whether the priest was an employee of the Vatican.

Vatican attorney Jeffery Lena said late Thursday the implications of the ruling are still unknown.

Doe’s lawyer calls the order an “historic step” in investigating allegations of child abuse by the clergy.

The Vatican has denied that it was Ronan’s employer, citing the facts it found in files from other related Catholic organizations in the case.