THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LAS CRUCES SAYS IT HAS VOLUNTARILY RELEASED TO THE NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF FILES INVOLVING MORE THAN TWO DOZEN PRIESTS. THE DIOCESE SAYS THE PRIESTS IN QUESTION HAVE FACED CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS OF SEX ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN.
ANOTHER 13 PRIESTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING THE SUBJECT OF ALLEGATIONS WHILE SERVING IN ANOTHER DIOCESE.
THE A-G’S OFFICE SAID LAST YEAR THAT IT WANTED CATHOLIC CHURCH OFFICIALS TO ALLOW IT TO REVIEW PERSONNEL RECORDS FOR ANY MATERIAL THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO CURRENT OR PAST SEX ABUSE ALLEGATIONS.
