Boston ? A grand jury is looking into whether there is enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Cardinal Bernard Law and other church leaders in the sex scandal that has engulfed the Boston Archdiocese, a law enforcement source said Wednesday.

The grand jury, convened by Massachusetts Atty. Gen. Thomas Reilly, has been investigating for weeks whether the cardinal and other leaders broke the law by quietly shuffling priests accused of molesting children from parish to parish, where they still had contact with youngsters.

A law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the grand jury investigation.

“We respect the right of the attorney general to pursue the investigation with any means that are appropriate,” said Donna M. Morrissey, a spokeswoman for the Boston Archdiocese.

However, legal experts said the investigation would probably not lead to charges.

Reilly said state laws on conspiracy, obstruction of justice and being an accessory to a crime would make it difficult to prosecute someone for putting another person in a position to commit a crime. Also, Massachusetts has no law requiring the reporting of a crime.

In addition, the statute of limitations on some offenses has run out, Reilly said.

Also Wednesday, attorneys for 275 people who claim they were molested as children by 20 priests said they would initiate talks with the Boston Archdiocese aimed at settling lawsuits.

Morrissey, the archdiocese spokeswoman, confirmed the two sides planned to enter preliminary discussions. The development means a deposition of Law that had been scheduled for today will not take place.

The scandal in the nation’s Roman Catholic Church began earlier this year in Boston when it was disclosed that the archdiocese had relocated priests despite allegations they had molested youngsters. Nationwide, at least 250 priests have either been dismissed from their duties or resigned since the scandal erupted.