'Widespread' Sex Abuse By PA Priests To Be Revealed In Report: AG

A comprehensive grand jury report on claims of "widespread" sexual abuse at Roman Catholic churches across Pennsylvania is expected to be released before the month's end, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.

The grand jury report is nearly two years in the making. Described by the Associated Press as the "biggest and most exhaustive ever" investigation into priest sex abuse by an individual state, the grand jury report will detail allegations at six of Pennsylvania's eight dioceses.

Dioceses investigated include Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton.

Shapiro said he will speak publicly on the "comprehensive investigation" by the end of June. "The only thing that could stop these findings from becoming public at that time is if one of the bishops or dioceses would seek to delay or prevent this public accounting," he noted.

According to the Associated Press report, the information provided by the grand jury will not only reveal details of the widespread abuse but also "efforts to conceal and protect abusive priests."

In 2016, a Pennsylvania grand jury investigated the Altoona-Johnstown diocese. A report released after that investigation revealed hundreds of children were subjected to abuse that was masked by two bishops who averted probes into the claims and created a "payout chart" to quietly compensate victims based on the level of abuse.

RELATED: Catholic Bishops Hid Sex Abuse Of Hundreds Of PA Children: Grand Jury

More than 50 priests and religious leaders who served at churches across the state were implicated in a sex-abuse scandal dating back 40 years, the investigation into Altoona-Johnstown revealed. Criminal charges were not filed because many of the priests accused of abuse had died and the statute of limitations had expired.

Two priests have been arrested on child sexual abuse charges as a result of the latest statewide probe, the Associated Press reports.

It is unclear whether there will be any other charges filed as a result of the newest report.

"Victims of this sexual abuse deserve the right to tell their stories to the people of Pennsylvania. That is why my legal team and I have worked tirelessly to have each diocese agree to give victims the opportunity to be heard," Shapiro said.

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