Federal authorities are now reportedly investigating alleged sex abuse in Pennsylvania Catholic churches

A Catholic church.
(Image credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Sexual abuse allegations in Pennsylvania's Catholic Church are now the subject of a federal investigation, two sources told The Associated Press on Thursday. The Department of Justice has reportedly subpoenaed the state's Catholic dioceses for confidential files regarding the allegations.

This reported investigation comes after an August grand jury report unearthed the names of more than 300 Pennsylvania priests accused of child sex abuse. The massive report soon triggered similar investigations in other states, including New York.

Pennsylvania's statute of limitations prevented further investigation into a number of the report's allegations, though two priests were charged after its release, AP notes. Under federal law, a number of sex abuse crimes, including sex abuse with a minor, have no statute of limitations.

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Kathryn Krawczyk

Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.