February 19, 2005

Church audit finds no Del. abuse claims

DELAWARE
The News Journal

By BETH MILLER / The News Journal
02/19/2005No new claims of sexual abuse against Catholic priests and deacons in Delaware were reported last year, according to a national survey of dioceses.

The survey of 195 dioceses, commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, revealed 1,092 new claims of abuse, most of which occurred decades ago. Almost 75 percent of those accused already had died, been defrocked or removed from the ministry.

The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, which includes Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, was found to be compliant with the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," the U.S. bishops' mandate for protective measures. The mandate was issued after a national scandal of clergy sexual abuse emerged in 2002.

The Diocese of Wilmington also was found compliant last year, in the first survey.

"We are firmly committed to the continued healing of those affected by past clergy sexual abuse and to the protection of our children," said Diocese of Wilmington spokesman Bob Krebs in a prepared statement. "We are gratified that our most recent audit has found us to be in compliance with all the articles of the Charter for the second consecutive year."

Posted by kshaw at February 19, 2005 06:26 AM