No charges in priest sex abuse case

LEADERS of the Philadelphia Archdiocese including two cardinals concealed sexual abuse by Catholic priests for four decades, a US grand jury has found, but no criminal charges can be brought against the church or its clergy because of the limits of state law.

The grand jury, convened more than three years ago, issued a scathing report yesterday that documents assaults by more than 60 priests. It also alleges a cover-up by the late Cardinal John Krol, archbishop of Philadelphia from 1961-88, and his successor Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who retired in 2003.

“To protect themselves from negative publicity or expensive lawsuits - while keeping abusive priests active - the cardinals and their aides hid the priests’ crimes from parishioners, police and the general public,” the report said.