(Image source from: PennLive.com)

The state of Pennsylvania is investigating the sexual abuse of children by priests in six of the state's eight Catholic dioceses. Pennsylvania's Attorney General, Josh Shapiro, has led the 18-month-long grand jury probe and has met with several victims to hear their stories of abuse.

The Diocese of Harrisburg, with the grand jury report due out soon, identified 71 priests and others among the accused on Wednesday. Harrisburg Bishop Ronald Gainer, Harrisburg Bishop apologized to abuse survivors.

"We take seriously both my and the diocese's obligation to prevent such abuse from occurring," he said.

The names of 71 clergy accused of sexually abusing were publicly released by the bishop in the Harrisburg diocese going back to 1940. Most of accused are no longer in ministry or dead.

The conclusion came just days before the awaited release of a grand jury probe to name over 300 priests defendant of being sexual predators in six of Pennsylvania's eight Catholic dioceses.

Sharon Tell, 66, says she told the grand jury she was first sexually abused by Monsignor James McHale when she was 12, and it continued for 20 years.  

"I was just a happy go lucky kid, and all of a sudden, he started laying down with me at night. It started off with just touching and went to intercourse," she said. McHale died in 1997.

Like many other victims, Tell's case fell outside the state's statute of limitations. But some say this grand jury report will give their stories of abuse validation.

"I went and testified in front of the grand jury so there were 30 people sitting in front of me. I testified for like two hours and they believed me," Tell said.

As a consequence of this grand jury investigation, there have been two arrests. On Tuesday, one priest pleaded guilty whereas second is awaiting trial. Umpteen cases fall out of Pennsylvania's statute of limitations.

By Sowmya Sangam