And they undoubtedly are under substantial pressure to shield not only their priests, but in some cases themselves, from an endless string of damaging accusations.

Hersh's juicy stories are recycled from other books, the magazine says, and sources for damaging accusations are dubious or misquoted.

Berlett's own actions, particularly his pretended death aboard the Southern Star, were damaging accusations.

Potentially the most damaging accusations in the report came from the staff member who did agree to talk to investigators.

Those laws were passed in the early days of drug testing, she points out, when lawmakers were concerned that false positives could lead to damaging accusations.

Other women were set to make even more damaging accusations - presumably credible enough to make Morgan Stanley eager to settle.

If Blanski got here alive and saw her, he would start making damaging accusations.

And then another and far more damaging accusation appeared and was mailed to all the same editors, publishers and magazines.

In his letter, Mr. Ford called the charges "the most damaging accusations ever made against a former vice president and president in American history."

"You make the most damaging accusation possible and then you retreat behind a wall of Implied judgment."