Justice Dept. aims at dioceses; priest marriage eyed

The Department of Justice has sent a sweeping request to every Roman Catholic diocese in the United States not to destroy documents related to the handling of child sexual abuse, a sign that the federal investigation into the church could grow far more extensive, according to a report by the New York Times.

Catholic bishops have been asked by the federal government to retain their files on a broad array of internal matters, including sexual abuse investigations and the transfer of priests across state or international borders or to treatment centers. The request includes documents contained in “secret archives” — the confidential files that are kept by each diocese.

Abuse victims have despaired for years that the church in the U.S. would never be called to fully account for the perpetrators and the people they violated. There have been government-run inquiries in countries like Australia and Ireland, but the federal government has been reluctant to intervene, until now.

Meanwhile, the Vatican is laying the groundwork to open formal debate on an issue that has long been taboo: opening up the priesthood to married men in parts of the world where clergy are scarce.

Pope Francis has convened a meeting of South American bishops next year focusing on the plight of the church in the Amazonand during that synod, the question of ordaining married men of proven virtue is expected to figure on the agenda.