The release of a long-awaited grand jury report into clergy sex abuse in Pennsylvania on Friday seemed imminent.

In an order issue Friday, Cambria County Common Pleas Court Judge Norman A. Krumenacker III opined that the report does not violate the secrecy parameters of a grand jury investigation, ruling that the report was intended to be released to the public. The judge ruled that the report could be released to the public at any moment and it was up to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to lift a stay.

In his opinion, Krumenacker writes that the "information contained in the Report is no longer protected by grand jury secrecy as the Grand Jury intended it to be released to the public in an expeditious manner."

Attorney General Josh Shapiro last week filed a brief to stave off efforts to prevent the release of the entire report.

"Today, Judge Krumenacker ruled in favor of the Commonwealth and victims that our brief should be made public," Shapiro said in a written statement.



"Our office continues to fight to ensure this report is released and victims' voices are heard by the people of Pennsylvania. This marks an important step in that process."

Attorneys for at least two dozen petitioners - mostly members of the clergy - had argued that the report violated their rights to due process. They also argued that the report is filled with inaccuracies and would cause irreparable damage to their reputation. The petitioning clergy were arguing that they should be given the opportunity to revise the report; and that the redacted documents violated the secrecy proceedings of a grand jury investigation.

The state Supreme Court in late June ordered a stay on the release of the findings of the 18-month-long investigation, which looked at child sex crimes across six dioceses in Pennsylvania. The report remains under seal until the high court lifts the stay order.