Witnesses await church sex abuse report with hope for change

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — One after another, witnesses beat back fear of revealing details many had kept largely private and recounted to grand jurors their story of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests whom they had trusted.

As they spoke, many said they felt compassion from the grand jurors in the sweeping investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse and cover-ups in six of Pennsylvania dioceses. And they felt believed.

Now, many are eagerly anticipating the public release of the grand jury report, which is pending clearance from Pennsylvania's highest court as justices sort through arguments by current and former clergy named in the document that releasing it would violate their constitutional rights.