PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
Around the nation, prosecutors have wrapped up inquiries similar to Philadelphia's by issuing scathing grand-jury reports on clergy sexual abuse of minors without bringing criminal charges. In three cases, however, prosecutors extracted admissions from church leaders in court.
Here is how several of the probes ended:
In 2003, following a 16-month inquiry, prosecutors investigating the Boston Archdiocese issued a 76-page report that said 250 priests and church workers had abused at least 789 children. But they did not indict Cardinal Bernard F. Law or any other church officials.
Investigators in Long Island and New York City concluded that too much time had elapsed since the abuse to prosecute - but criticized the church for shielding abusers.
Cincinnati's archbishop appeared in court in November 2003 to plead no contest on behalf of his diocese to five misdemeanor counts of failing to report abuse to authorities.