21.   But as one juror said after the verdict, this was not a domestic abuse case, it was a murder case.

22.   But justice crawls when it comes to animal abuse cases.

23.   But some legal experts said that it is not clear that the law can be invoked in the sex abuse cases.

24.   But the policy is also coming under more scrutiny from government officials, who argue that all abuse cases should be reported to authorities.

25.   But the issue will have major implications for the prosecution of future of child abuse case.

26.   Cardinal Bernard F. Law of Boston has publicly apologized for the mishandling of sexual abuse cases there and has met with victims.

27.   CPS cleared the school of negligence, the same conclusion it has reached in every sexual abuse case on campus in recent years.

28.   Courts have often been quick to comply when the church asked that records of abuse cases be sealed from public view.

29.   Doctors, teachers and neighbors have been enlisted in the effort to look for and report abuse cases.

30.   Dr. Haroutunian, the pediatrician, who said the number of abuse cases in Newark was overwhelming, at first hesitated at being drawn by reporters into the issue.