2014 update A new site from the Boston Globe includes news updates on clergy abuse and other Catholic issues.
Investigations and lawsuits
Latest coverage
March 11
Victims' lawyer to sue Dupre
March 6
Suit accuses insurer of fraud
March 5
Charges against bishop eyed
March 1
Activists seek sex abuse panel
February 26
Alleged victim to aid probe
February 13
Springfield probe is sought
January 7, 2004
Agents faced reluctant aides
December 3
Church settles with victim
November 15
Settlement fuels money advice
November 12
Claims set aside until 2004
October 30
Hard line set on abuse trials
October 21
Most plaintiffs accept deal
October 19
Therapy sought in abuse suit
October 17
Lawyer says settlement near
October 8
Victims agonize over deal
September 12
Victims seen taking settlement
September 11
Church deal a boon for lawyers
September 10
Church in $85 million accord
Archdiocese facing new strains
Most plaintiffs to accept deal
O'Malley makes an appeal
September 9
Negotiations resume in cases
Earlier stories
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When the abuse scandal broke in January 2002, Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly immediately raised questions about the church's handling of abuse allegations and urged the Archdiocese of Boston to turn over its records to prosecutors for possible criminal action. In 2002, nine priests were criminally charged with rape or molestation.
Many more priests were sued in civil court by newly emboldened victims. Attorneys Mitchell Garabedian and Roderick MacLeish, representing many of the victims, deposed Cardinal Bernard F. Law and other top church officials and successfully lobbied for the release of thousands of church documents .
In December 2002, Reilly said the state had sufficient evidence of a church coverup to consider prosecuting the archdiocese under a doctrine of liability. That same month, Law and at least five bishops were subpoenaed to appear before a state grand jury investigating possible criminal violations by the church.
Although Law has resigned as Boston archbishop , efforts by state prosecutors and victims' lawyers to hold the church accountable continue.
See the story list to the left for the latest coverage of the investigations into clergy sexual abuse.
Attorney General Thomas Reilly talks about the investigation of the church. (Globe Staff Photo / Tom Herde)
Victims' attorney Roderick MacLeish discusses new church documents. (Globe Staff Photo / Evan Richman)
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