- A scathing Grand Juryreport released Tuesday

accuses hundreds of Catholic priests

with sexually abusingmore than a 1,000 children

in Pennsylvania.

The abuse happened over decades.

And officials believe the real number

of abused children might be much higher.

Charlene Aaron is on this story.

- The bombshell report identifiesmore than a 1,000 victims

of 300 predator priests whosexually abused children

in six Pennsylvania diocesedating back to 1940.

State Attorney General JoshShapiro released the report

Tuesday in an emotional news conference

surrounded by victims.

Some, sharing theirtraumatic stories in a video.

- When you have the priesttouching you everyday,

that's a hard memory to have.

- He would always have his hands on me.

- They targeted mebecause I was fatherless.

- The time of telling thesevictims to keep their truth

to themselves has ended.

- [Charlene] The report accusesdozens of church leaders

of covering up the abuse for decades

beginning in the mid 1950s.

- Priests were rapinglittle boys and girls.

And the men of God whowere responsible for them

not only did nothing,

they hid it all for decades.

- [Charlene] In response to the report,

Bishop David Zubik ofthe Pittsburgh Diocese

is apologizing to victims.

That Diocese is one of thesix named in the report.

- I promise to meet withany victim to apologize

to them in person and inthe name of the church.

- [Charlene] Outside of Pennsylvania,

Washington DC Cardinal Theodore McCarrick

recently resigned afteraccusations of sexual abuse.

He's the highest rankingchurch official to fall,

but maintains his innocence.

Meanwhile criminal chargeswill be brought against

a few priests in Pennsylvania.

But officials say manyof the cases are beyond

the statute of limitations.

The Grand Jury recommendschanges in some state laws

to bring justice for the victims.

- The Grand Jury recommendsthat the penalties

for a continuing failureto report child abuse

be clarified.

We can't pass laws tellingthe church how to administer

internal operations,

but we can demand thatit inform authorities

about rapists and molesterswrote the Grand Jury.

- [Charlene] Charlene Aaron, CBN News.