Updated

A lawyer says a Roman Catholic monsignor has testified before a federal grand jury investigating how the Archdiocese of Los Angeles handled claims of priest abuse.

Attorney John Manly told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the former vicar for clergy Monsignor Richard Loomis testified before the grand jury on Dec. 16 and was granted immunity.

A second lawyer familiar with the federal probe confirmed Manly's account but requested anonymity because grand jury proceedings are confidential.

Manly represents victims of clergy abuse. He says the monsignor's civil attorney told him last week about the testimony because Loomis was scheduled to give a deposition in a lawsuit Manly filed.