Subpoenaed: Marist Brothers Lawyers Face Questions Over Keeping Serial Offender Out of 'the Legal Arena'

Lawyers for the Marist Brothers have been subpoenaed to explain a once-confidential document, and they face questions over advice to keep a serial offender out of "the legal arena." For many law-and-order voters, the issue is whether institutions are held to the same standard as everyone else.

The document shows lawyers advised the Catholic order to keep a serial offender out of "the legal arena." It referred to the offender's release from jail and said a child sexual abuser might implicate senior church officials if allowed near "the legal arena."

The same document said the offender was "regrettably up front" about his interactions with senior leadership and suggested he was too honest and might implicate senior church officials. Critics of institutional secrecy will see a case for accountability; the record here is a subpoena and questions, not conclusions.