US cardinal in papal crisis talks

Demonstrators have been seeking Law's resignation

The Vatican says the Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law, is to meet Pope John Paul II on Friday to discuss alleged cases of sex abuse in his archdiocese.

Law is accused of failing to confront the problem

The BBC's Washington correspondent Rob Watson says Cardinal Law is expected to repeat an earlier offer to resign - an offer the Pope rejected when first made in April.

In the meeting scheduled for 1120 (1020GMT), Cardinal Law may also discuss the possibility of declaring the Boston archdiocese bankrupt in the face of about 450 lawsuits alleging child abuse by priests.

The cardinal flew to Rome last week, a day after he and several Boston bishops were summoned to appear before a grand jury investigating allegations that Catholic priests sexually abused children.

Priest's revolt

Cardinal Law has been facing widespread calls for his resignation amid allegations that his archdiocese allowed priests accused of abuse to keep their jobs.

Grand jury

Convened by judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to press criminal charges

Composed of ordinary citizens as in a normal jury

Secret proceedings

Lower burden of proof than "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard of criminal cases

Earlier this week, in an unprecedented move, 58 Boston priests sent a letter to the cardinal asking him to step down.

The Boston Globe newspaper said on Thursday that Cardinal Law and as many as seven bishops who served under him were subpoenaed by the grand jury last Friday.

The Massachusetts Attorney General's office refused to comment on the report.

Active investigation

A spokeswoman for the Attorney General told BBC News Online that there was "an active ongoing investigation into the diocese" but would not elaborate.

The Pope will make the final decisions

In the US, grand juries are called to determine whether evidence is strong enough to bring criminal charges against an individual.

The report came as a group claiming to represent some 25,000 parishioners called on Cardinal Law to resign immediately.

The group, Voice of the Faithful, voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to ask Cardinal Law to step down due to what it called "a pervasive pattern of behaviour to conceal and cover up... evil actions".