Archdiocese of St. Louis Sues Law Firm on Confidentiality of Documents
Midwest News • May 31, 2007
The Archdiocese of St. Louis is suing a law firm that handles clergy sex abuse cases, claiming it is improperly circulating confidential documents related to eight current or former priests.
At a ...
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Subject: RE: Confidentiality of Documents
Posted On: May 31, 2007, 6:22 pm CDT
Posted By: Anon
Comment:
First, I'm very sorry for the trauma you suffered and the years of distress it likely caused. I can't imagine how painful it must have been to be abused by a person in a position of trust.
However, I have to disagree on a strictly legal basis. Client / Attorney confidentiality is a major part of the American judicial system (same as Doctor / Patient, Media / Source, etc / etc).
This is one of those rare situations where regardless of the good that might come from it, the law must be respected.
Just as I wouldn't want my doctor contacting the news with the results of my last physical, my psychiatrist running a full-page ad letting the world know about my issues, or my etc telling everyone he knew at the bar about my etc, I would expect my attorney to hold my information in the same regard.
As a Catholic I am outraged at how The Church in the US has handled allegations and admissions of child sexual abuse by members of it's clergy and lay. However, the law of practice must be respected on the part of the attorneys involved in these cases.
Popular or not, too powerful or not... the Catholic Church, it's Diocese and Archdiocese, and it's members should be afforded the same protections and considerations as any other plaintif in a legal proceeding.
Subject: RE: Confidentiality of Documents
However, I have to disagree on a strictly legal basis. Client / Attorney confidentiality is a major part of the American judicial system (same as Doctor / Patient, Media / Source, etc / etc).
This is one of those rare situations where regardless of the good that might come from it, the law must be respected.
Just as I wouldn't want my doctor contacting the news with the results of my last physical, my psychiatrist running a full-page ad letting the world know about my issues, or my etc telling everyone he knew at the bar about my etc, I would expect my attorney to hold my information in the same regard.
As a Catholic I am outraged at how The Church in the US has handled allegations and admissions of child sexual abuse by members of it's clergy and lay. However, the law of practice must be respected on the part of the attorneys involved in these cases.
Popular or not, too powerful or not... the Catholic Church, it's Diocese and Archdiocese, and it's members should be afforded the same protections and considerations as any other plaintif in a legal proceeding.