February 19, 2005

At least 55 new priest abuse cases in Wash. state

WASHINGTON
KGW

Associated Press

SEATTLE -- The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle said Friday that in 2004 it received 31 new complaints of sexual abuse by priests, while the Spokane Diocese said it received 24 new claims.

No new figures were immediately available for the Yakima Diocese.

Nationally, Catholic leaders said Friday that 1,092 new abuse claims were made against American priests and deacons last year, even after dioceses had already paid more than $800 million in settlements.

In the Seattle Archdiocese, the 31 new complaints last year were made against 10 priests — seven of whom had been previously accused.

The three priests — two are dead, one laicized — who were accused for the first time bring to 52 the total number of priests and deacons accused in the archdiocese since 1950. That's 4.1 percent of all clergy who have worked at the archdiocese since then.

Posted by kshaw at February 19, 2005 06:31 AM