Sex abuse scandals continue to plague Catholic Church and beyond.
Investigations into the Catholic Church by state attorneys general have cataloged decades of sexual abuse but yielded few criminal prosecutions. Reports have found staggering numbers of accused priests and victims, leading some states to extend time limits for victims to sue alleged abusers. The reports have had a lasting impact in other ways, providing public and official acknowledgment of what happened. Survivor groups have urged the Department of Justice to mount a federal investigation of the church.