Some details about what's in the report have been made public, including that it will identify more than 300 “predator priests.”

Cardinal O'Malley said he also has appointed a group "to oversee an inquiry into the allegations made this week, the culture of the seminary regarding the personal standards expected and required of candidates for the priesthood, and any seminary issues of sexual harassment or other forms of intimidation or discrimination."

The "regular canonical trial" for an accused bishop, experts say, usually would be conducted by the apostolic tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Archbishop Gregory said Catholics are specifically "enraged" about allegations of abuse by Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick and find "any pastoral negligence in protecting our people is similarly grievous."

Sexual abuse at two leading Catholic schools in England was considerably higher than is reflected by conviction figures.

Dealing with the reality of potential abuse and the history of clerical sexual abuse in the church is a process.