PORTLAND - Secret files on Roman Catholic priests accused of sex abuse will be released as part of a $75 million settlement that will allow the Archdiocese of Portland to reorganize from the first bankruptcy in the nation ever filed by a Catholic diocese.

The documents, mostly personnel files, are not expected to be released until mid-May.

But lawyers for victims called the agreement to release the documents “historic” and said it would mark the end of “the era of secrecy” when silence prevailed over abuse complaints.

“This policy of openness and transparency will go far in preventing future tragedies,” said David Slader, who represents a number of victims - including one whose case prompted the archdiocese to declare bankruptcy in July 2004 on the eve of trial.

Kelly Clark, who has been representing abuse victims for 15 years, said the “Archdiocese is to be commended for understanding that the old days are over.”

“Secret archives of secret crimes and secret shame will be made public for the community to see and understand,” Clark said at a news conference held Tuesday at the federal courthouse.

The attorneys were joined by U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan and Lane County Circuit Judge Lyle Velure, who officially lifted their gag order on the case after months of negotiations that led to the settlement and the agreement to release the documents.

Both judges were repeatedly praised by the attorneys and by Archbishop John Vlazny, who personally apologized to the victims and to Catholics across the state.

“We are family, and when one suffers, we all suffer,” Vlazny said, asking for prayer for victims, and for “personal healing and peace of heart.”

He also said the church has adopted a tough new policy on child protection to prevent future abuse.

Matt Clemens of Hillsboro, who filed one of the claims and served on one of the bankruptcy creditor committees, said he was happy the ordeal was finally over after nearly three years.

He also praised the decision to release the secret files, although he criticized the church for resisting the effort for so long.

“If we don't know what happened in the past, how can we prevent it form happening again?” Clemens said.

The archdiocese had settled about 140 sex abuse claims for $53 million before Vlazny decided to declare bankruptcy to head off more lawsuits.

He said Tuesday the church had come to a point nearly three years ago when it could not borrow enough money to pay additional claims and there was no more insurance money available.

The $75 million settlement approved last Friday by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris includes about $52 million from insurance companies to cover 175 claims and another $20 million for future claims.

The bankruptcy reorganization plan, which Hogan said was in effect Tuesday, allows the archdiocese to pay victims without tapping into any assets held by its 124 parishes, 42 elementary schools, 10 high schools, two colleges and charitable funds.

Hogan said the reorganization plan also calls for the church to better define ownership of its property under both civil law and church law, known as canon law.

Bankruptcies were filed by four other dioceses after the Portland archdiocese in 2004. One has already been settled in Tucson, Ariz., while an agreement is pending in Spokane, Wash. The other two dioceses are in Davenport, Iowa, and San Diego, Calif.