The grand jury report investigating sexual abuse across six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania names more than 300 "predator priests," according to a court order issued Friday.

A redacted report will be released to the public in August, the state Supreme Court said in an order issued Friday. The court order also revealed more details about the long-awaited report on clergy sex abuse.

Here are some key takeaways from the court order regarding the report.

1. Most priests will be named

The court order states repeatedly that the grand jury report names more than 300 "predator priests" accused of committing criminal or morally reprehensible conduct.

While the court order is allowing petitioners to challenge the release of some named in the report, the order suggests that the vast majority of those named will be publicly identified.

Dozens of clergy have filed legal challenges to modify the report, alleging that their rights to due process will be violated. The court will allow those with standing challenges to make a case to have their identities removed in a redacted version of the report.

However, those that have not already filed a legal challenge apparently will be named when the redacted report report is released.

Since the grand jury report names more than 300 priests, most of those individuals apparently are going to be named in the redacted report.

2. Bigger than Boston

The investigation of sexual abuse in Catholic Churches in Pennsylvania could dwarf the notorious cases of abuse in Boston chronicled in the film "Spotlight."

The Archdiocese of Boston identified 248 priests accused of abuse over a period of decades. The Pennsylvania grand jury report names more than 300 individuals, the order stated, but a specific number wasn't given.

Nonetheless, the court order offers new information about the scope of the 18-month investigation of the dioceses of Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton, Erie and Greensburg.

3. The report will be graphic

The state Supreme Court indicates in its order that the 900-page report won't be watered down.

For example, the court notes the grand jury's description of more than 300 "predator priests." In its order Friday, the state Supreme Court said it aims to release "the bulk" of the report to the public as quickly as possible.

The court also said that it won't hear objections to "generalized content" of the report from clergy.

The order, written by Chief Justice Thomas Saylor, states that "large portions of the grand jury's report can be released to the public."

Bishop Lawrence Persico, the head of the Erie Diocese, has read the report. He has previously told PennLive the report will be "sobering" and "rather graphic."

4. There shouldn't be additional delays

The state Supreme Court order outlines rigid deadlines for the release of the redacted report. The redacted report will be released by Aug. 14 at the latest - and possibly sooner. The court states that it doesn't plan to entertain motions to postpone the release of the redacted report and warns against legal challenges to block it.

The state attorney general's office is ordered to produce a redacted report by Aug. 3. Any legal challenges to exclude names from the report must be filed by Aug. 7.

The challenges will be limited in errors to redaction relating to identifying individuals who shouldn't be named, the court order stated.

If there are no legal challenges to the redaction process, the report will be released by 2 p.m. Aug. 8. Given the flurry of legal activity surrounding the grand jury report, some legal challenge seems likely.

Even if legal challenges are filed, the redacted report will be issued no later than 2 p.m. Aug. 14, the court states. It's possible the report could be issued sooner.

5. Special master plays a key role

The state Supreme Court said that a "special master" will review the redacted report and weigh any legal challenges regarding the redaction of names in the report.

The court order does not identify the special master but indicates that individual will be appointed by the court in a separate order.

6. A victory for victims

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro noted that the upcoming release of the report is a "victory" for survivors of sexual abuse.

Victims told PennLive they were heartened by the order authorizing the release of the report.

PennLive and several other media organizations, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Daily News, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Associated Press, had petitioned the court to release the report.

Tim Lennon, volunteer president of the board of directors of SNAP, The Survivors' Network, praised the state Supreme Court for allowing a redacted report to be released.

"Hopefully, the judges will ultimately decide to allow the entire report to see the light of day," Lennon said.

7. The grand jury wanted the report to be public

The high court's order noted that the grand jury dearly wanted its report to be released to the general public.

The court's order states that the report includes this phrase: "We, the members of this grand jury, need you to hear this."

8. Grand jury process gets scrutiny

The justices struggled with questions about the grand jury process. Specifically, they grappled with questions regarding petitions of clergy who argued that the grand jury process doesn't allow for the protection of their due process rights. They noted that the report could damage the reputation of those named.

The high court didn't fully resolve its concerns over those issues. While the court is moving forward with the release of an interim report, the court has scheduled a hearing in September to address issues of due process.

Staff writers Ivey DeJesus and Wallace McKelvey contributed.

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