Oregon Public Broadcasting

A final arbitration hearing on what documents the Portland Archdiocese will release about priest sexual abuse took place Monday.   Pete Springer reports.

Attorneys for both the abuse victims and the Portland Archdiocese met in federal court in Eugene for the hearing.

Judge Michael Hogan closed the hearing to the public and news media and issued a gag order on everyone involved.

The judge is taking the information from the hearing under advisement and there is no estimate when he will make a final determination.

At issue are church documents on pedophile priests.

The church promised to release the documents following a bankruptcy settlement with abuse victims last year.

Some documents have been released-- but many have not.  Lawyers for the victims want the full records of abusive priests made public.

Judge Hogan’s decision on what documents are released—and when—will be binding and cannot be appealed.