State prosecutors just landed a big win in their long fought battle to investigate allegations of clergy sexual abuse.

New Jersey's Supreme Court recently ordered records in the case to be unsealed and agreed to hear arguments next month.

Now, the documents revealed secret efforts by the Catholic Church to quash the case and keep it from going to a grand jury.

New Jersey's Atorney General's office initially launched the investigation after a 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report found hundreds of Catholic priests had sexually abused at least 1000 children.

New Jersey's victims, survivors and their families have been waiting for answers ever since.

For more, I'm joined by Mark Crawford, state director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.

Mark Crawford, thanks for coming on the show.

Very simply, what does the Supreme Court's decision mean?

Both for the case but also importantly, for the survivors of clergy abuse?

Well, it's really huge.

Survivors have been waiting for years for a full accounting of what has happened.

They were asked to come forward, give testimony, which they have done.

And for years we've heard nothing.

It was silent very little from the ages office.

And they were really wondering what's going on here.

So now that we know that it has been the, Camden diocese actually taking legal action to oppose the grand jury presentment and the investigation, it is deeply disturbing.

Right.

But I'll tell you, the ability to be heard, the ability to have their story told.

And I think it gives them a sense of validation.

It's it's not just, any kind of renumeration, but the harm that's been done.

It is.

They want accountability.

They want people to know who did this and what could have been done, either to stop it or what was not done to stop it.

What do you make, though, Mark, of this argument from the Camden dioceses that, you know, victims can get relief through civil lawsuits.

So there's in their purview.

No need for a grand jury, no need for this to be made public.

Because of the privacy of being a religious organization.

It is terrible that they think, okay, go to court, you know, maybe you'll win some money, I don't know.

But does that give them closure?

That's not what they really want.

They want accountability.

They want validation.

They want somebody to acknowledge what was done or why.

And they want to know the facts.

A lot of times these, as we can see now, our bishops have taken every step to conceal the truth of these matters.

How is it?

Why is it that for seven years now, almost seven years, none of the bishops have said, hey, wait a minute.

We're taking this legal action.

They even ask that that be, sealed and and, prevented from the public from knowing their actions.

If they were right, then why did they needed to?

Why should we hide the fact they're wrong and they don't want the faithful or the people or the public to know what they're up to.

They publicly promised openness, transparency, and cooperation with the ages investigation.

Well, behind the scenes, Camden was fighting to keep this from ever happening.

If the grand jury comes to pass and their recommendations come to pass, how in your mind might that help some of the systemic issues and any future abuse from happening?

Well, number one, many of the the offenders that might be acknowledged or exposed are still living and working among us.

Unknown.

And that's a problem.

So it is critically necessary.

And the public has a right to know it is in the public's interest and in a matter of safety for the public.

And I'd like to say that, look, this is not just victims from Camden.

Their actions have suppressed, victims across the whole state, from any diocese or any other institution.

So just because your, private institution doesn't mean you shouldn't be held accountable for the actions or inactions which led to criminal behavior or the sexual abuse of children.

Mark, thanks so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Brianna.