DA will review LA church files for crimes

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Prosecutors will review internal priest personnel files kept by the Los Angeles Roman Catholic archdiocese that show retired Cardinal Roger Mahony and other top church officials worked to shield molester priests.

District attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said in an emailed statement Tuesday that the office will "evaluate all documents as they become available to us."

Thousands of pages of confidential records from the files of 14 priests accused of sex abuse were made public Monday.

The documents show how the church handled abuse allegations for decades and provide the strongest evidence to date that Mahony and a top aide consulted about how to handle molester priests and protect the archdiocese from scandal.

Mahony issued an apology Monday.

Dozens more priest files will soon become public under a 2007 settlement agreement.