SPAIN
BBC News
A court in the southern Spanish city of Granada has dropped charges against nine out of 10 Catholic priests accused of sexually abusing an altar boy.
The charges – which included “sexual abuse with penetration, exhibitionism and concealing evidence” – were dropped because the crimes fell within the statute of limitations.
Charges were also dropped against two laymen accused in the case.
Pope Francis had intervened in the case, urging an investigation.
Last November, the pontiff had also telephoned the alleged victim, now aged 24, to offer his apologies.
The abuse is alleged to have taken place between 2004 and 2007.
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