Judge Initiates Leak Inquiry into New Orleans Archdiocese Cover-Up Report

A federal judge, Jane Triche Milazzo, has ordered an investigation into potential violations of confidentiality rules by the New Orleans archdiocese after The Guardian exposed their cover-up of a retired priest who confessed to child molestation. The investigation is not focused on charging the priest or holding church administrators accountable, but rather on determining if anyone violated confidentiality rules related to the archdiocese's bankruptcy protection filing. The judge intends to appoint a local lawyer to conduct the investigation, although objections have been raised due to potential conflicts of interest. This is the second investigation related to the archdiocese's handling of clerical abuse cases since filing for bankruptcy in 2020.