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The Vatican knew of a cover-up involving abusive priests, Pennsylvania AG says

<p>Pennsylvania's attorney general says there's proof that the Vatican knew about the allegations of sexual abuse by priests in the state — and about efforts to cover it up. </p><p>Attorney General Josh Shapiro <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/28/us/pennsylvania-ag-claims-vatican-knew-of-coverup/index.html" target="_blank">made the comment</a> on NBC's "Today" on Tuesday. He said he couldn't speak specifically to Pope Francis, but he has "evidence that the Vatican had knowledge of the cover-up." </p><p>It's unclear exactly what that evidence is, though. </p><p>The comments come two weeks after a <a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/pennsylvania-grand-jury-accuses-over-300-priests-of-abuse/" target="_blank">grand jury report</a> was released saying more than 300 priests in Pennsylvania were credibly accused of abusing more than 1,000 children. The alleged abuse dated back to 1947. </p><p>In the weeks since the report was released, the <a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/pittsburgh-diocese-receives-dozens-of-new-abuse-allegations/" target="_blank">Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh</a> said it received dozens more reports of abuse. </p><p>Pope Francis <a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/pope-francis-letter-condemns-sexual-abuse-by-priests/" target="_blank">issued a letter</a> last week condemning sexual abuse by priests and its cover up. But he told reporters on Sunday that he <a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/pope-refuses-to-comment-on-allegations-of-mccarrick-cover-up/" target="_blank">wouldn't comment on accusations</a> that he knew about some sexual conduct allegations within the church and took no action. </p><p>Additional reporting from <a href="http://www.cnn.com" target="_blank">Newsy affiliate CNN</a>.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/n-c-judges-rule-congressional-map-is-still-unconstitutional/">North Carolina Judges Rule Congressional Map Is Still Unconstitutional</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/young-guns/">Young Guns</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/manafort-reportedly-discussed-plea-deal-to-prevent-second-trial/">Manafort Reportedly Discussed Plea Deal To Prevent Second Trial</a></li></ul>
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In the latest scathing allegation against the Catholic church, Pennsylvania's attorney general said the Vatican knew about a cover-up involving sex abuse allegations against priests.

"We have evidence that the Vatican had knowledge of the cover-up," Attorney General Josh Shapiro told NBC's "Today" show Tuesday.

He later told CNN's Wolf Blitzer, "Once the Vatican learned of it, I do not know if the Pope learned about it or not."

The accusation comes two weeks after the release of a grand jury report saying hundreds of "predator priests" had abused children in six Pennsylvania dioceses over the past seven decades.

Shapiro did not specify Tuesday what evidence he has that would suggest the Vatican knew of a cover-up.

"The only documents which are public are in the report itself, including the references to the Vatican's knowledge," Shapiro's spokesman Joe Grace said.

"All else remains sealed through the grand jury process."

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said the Vatican would need to learn more details about the evidence before commenting.

Shapiro said the grand jury's lengthy investigation into abuse by priests also revealed a widespread cover-up "that went all the way to the Vatican."

"This coverup served a very specific purpose," Shapiro told CNN.

"It was not only to cover it up within the parishes, within the churches. It was also to shield them from law enforcement so law enforcement officials like me couldn't charge them with crimes"

In the two weeks since the grand jury's report was released, Shapiro said Pennsylvania's clergy abuse hotline has received more than 730 calls.

It's not clear how many of those cases -- if any -- could still be prosecuted within the statute of limitations.

But on the civil side, sex abuse cases have already cost the Catholic church and its insurance companies billions of dollars.

The Vatican has taken steps to root out some offending clergy members. According to the grand jury report, in 2014, the Vatican said it had defrocked about 850 priests who raped or molested children and sanctioned 2,500 worldwide during the previous decade.

The Pennsylvania grand jury report has put dioceses across the country on alert. Several other states have launched their own investigations into Catholic clergy.

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