California dioceses expect subpoenas in priest investigation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Half of California’s Catholic dioceses expect to be subpoenaed by the state attorney general as part of an investigation into whether they have properly handled allegations of sexual abuse by priests. A church spokesman says the subpoenas are expected for the six dioceses that have already been providing documents since May. They are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, San Jose and Orange. Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office sent letters to all 12 dioceses in May asking them to retain documents related to the abuse allegations that have forced the church to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to victims.