Grand juries in 9 states investigate Catholic misconduct cases

AT A GLANCE

A list of the grand juries that this year have investigated sexual misconduct allegations against U.S. Roman Catholic officials:

Arizona: Maricopa County (Phoenix) Attorney Rick Romley is investigating whether church officials failed to report claims of criminal sexual conduct by priests, including a grand jury examination of the Rev. Patrick Colleary of Scottsdale, who is on leave.

California: A grand jury impaneled by District Attorney Steve Cooley has issued subpoenas ordering the Los Angeles Archdiocese to turn over personnel records on priests accused of abuse. Eight priests are under investigation.

Maryland: A Carroll County grand jury indicted the Rev. Brian Cox on charges he abused two boys about 20 years ago.

Massachusetts: State Attorney General Thomas Reilly has convened a grand jury to probe whether Cardinal Bernard Law and other Boston church leaders broke the law by moving accused molesters from parish to parish.

Missouri: A state grand jury is looking into abuse allegations against 24 clergy.

New York: A grand jury in Westchester County concluded a two-month investigation with a sweeping report that decried the shielding of abusive priests and called for tough new state laws. Suffolk County (Long Island) District Attorney Thomas Spota has convened a special grand jury to study abuse allegations and how the church handled them. A New York City grand jury is investigating the Rev. John Thompson, accused of intimidating a parochial school principal who complained that Thompson spent school funds on an 18-year-old man he was living with.

Ohio: A Hamilton County (Cincinnati) grand jury is examining whether clergy abused children. A grand jury in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) has investigated charges against a suspended priest, the Rev. David Weber.

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham has convened a grand jury to investigate allegations of priestly sex abuse and possible church cover-ups.

South Carolina: A York County grand jury has indicted suspended Colombian priest Juan Carlos Castano over a claim that he abused a 4-year-old girl in 2000.

SOURCE: The Associated Press