PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Monsters and Critics
Sep 21, 2005, 21:05 GMT
PHILADELPHIA, PA, United States (UPI) -- A Philadelphia grand jury, which accused 63 Roman Catholic priests of sexual abuse and church officials of a cover-up, called for changes in state law.
While the grand jury`s scathing 418-page report concluded at least 63 priests sexually abused children, they cannot be charged because the statute of limitations has expired, radio station KYW-AM and The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The grand jury called for removing Pennsylvania`s statute of limitations in crimes against children.
Even more disturbing than widespread abuse by priests was a cover-up by former Philadelphia Archdiocese cardinals John Krol and Anthony Bevilacqua, who 'excused and enabled the abuse,' the grand jury report said.
In a 70-page response, the church called the grand jury report 'a vile, mean-spirited diatribe' and rejected virtually all of the accusations.