PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Rhode Island judge has agreed to delay the release of documents related to a disgraced Roman Catholic organization called the Legion of Christ.
The delay gives the Legion time to appeal the judge's earlier ruling that unsealed the documents, which are from a lawsuit contesting the will of a woman who left the Legion $60 million.
Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein on Friday agreed to give the Legion until Feb. 15 to ask the state Supreme Court to intervene.
The Associated Press, The New York Times and other media organizations had asked the judge to unseal the documents.
The judge agreed Wednesday, calling the public's right to scrutinize them "paramount."
The Legion says their release could taint a future jury.
The Vatican took over the Legion in 2010 after determining its late founder had molested seminarians.
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