As a 30-year-old man underwent intense cross-examination in the criminal case in which he has accused a priest of molesting him as a 14-year-old, he gave a short bark of laughter.

Defense attorney William Brennan had just asked if M.B. decided to allege he was molested by priest and family friend James Brennan because he was jealous of the close friendship James Brennan had with M.B.’s mother.