Lawyers for Cardinal George Pell are seeking access to the medical records of complainants in the case against him.
Cardinal Pell, 76, is set to face a four-week committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court next month as he fights historical sexual offence charges involving multiple complainants.
No other details of the case against him can be reported for legal reasons.
One of Cardinal Pell's defence barristers, Ruth Shann, made what she described as a "responsible and considered" application to access the medial records of complainants in the case.
Ms Shann told the court the records would have substantial probative value, meaning they would contain important evidence to the case.
She said a complainant may not be in the best position to describe their own mental health.
"A particular complainant may, or may not know, the exact name of the therapy or treatment which they were subject to," Ms Shann told the court.
"We would not get very far at a committal just asking these people."
Ms Shann said there were also specific issues in the case which had led the defence to make the application and that it was not a "fishing expedition".
"We know that around the time of complaints first being made, that there is treatment and I won't go into the detail of that," she said.
Like these people haven't been rogered enough already. Now the Catholic Church will make it all but impossible to state their claim against this behemoth.
Take this on notice George Pell and Pope Francis.... the world is OVER the shenanigans that you are covering up... This, hopefully will lead to bigger and better things....