The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - A lawyer has filed a civil racketeering lawsuit against the Cleveland Roman Catholic Diocese, seeking to view the confidential files on every priest who works in the eight-county diocese, The Plain Dealer reported Sunday.

Jay Milano filed the lawsuit Thursday on behalf of five northeast Ohioans who accuse priests or diocesan employees of sexually abusing them as children during the last four decades. Church officials knew about the abuse and failed to report the crimes to police, the lawsuit claims.

The suit also seeks financial records from the corporations the diocese owns and operates. Milano contends the diocese uses the businesses to shield assets. Diocese spokesman Bob Tayek declined to comment on the suit.

A Massachusetts judge's order last year to open secret church records of the Boston Archdiocese - and the subsequent publication of the information - started the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church in America.

In the past year, people who say they were victimized by priests in the Cleveland diocese have filed 16 lawsuits against the church.

Lawyers in the cases say they have encountered a more open-minded reception from judges, many of whom in the past would routinely throw out the cases. "I think they (the diocesan lawyers) are probably shocked. I am thrilled," said lawyer Rick Sommers, who represents a Cleveland woman in a suit against the diocese.

The church also has agreed to participate in out-of-court mediation hearings. "In cases that normally would be barred by the statute of limitations, mediation will allow the diocese to reach out to victims in a way that is less intrusive and more efficient to negotiate a balanced settlement," Tayek said.