BOSTON -- The Archdiocese of Boston turned over more than 1,000 pages of documents Friday pertaining to the Rev. Paul Shanley.

Video

Watch Jack Harper's Report

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper said that a lawsuit by Gregory Ford names Cardinal Bernard Law as defendant, claiming that he knew about Shanley's behavior, and failed to act.

After an initial look at the documents, Ford's attorney, Eric MacLeish, said that Shanley's psychiatric records were not included.

"It's obvious from the records we've just seen that it is going to take a long time to go over these documents. We are going to be meeting tonight with our clients to review them. There are some documents of significance. My clients are inclined to share those at a later time," MacLeish said.

Ford contends that he was abused by Shanley when he was a little boy.

The documents are expected to shed light on whether, as Ford alleges, Law was negligent in not doing more to stop the alleged abuse.

"I do not believe that we've been provided with the psychiatric evaluation what was one on Paul Shanley. We expect that to be delivered. We are disappointed the archdiocese did not do that," MacLeish said.

"I should be able to speak about this. This is my life," Ford said.

MacLeish said that Ford has been on an emotional roller coaster.

"It is very difficult that the archdiocese saw fit to try to have them gagged, even further about this. They still don't understand that. It is a very difficult time for the Fords. The truth is going to come out. There is nothing like the truth to bring sunshine and a day of light into this disturbing history that we've had in Boston. I believe that these documents are going to be part of that history," MacLeish said.

After successfully fending off the church's move to try to place a gag order on Ford, his family has decided that they will make public some of the documents that they received.