WASHINGTON (DC)
The Seattle Times
By Rachell Zoll
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — New figures released Thursday by the nation's Roman Catholic bishops show the toll of the clergy sex-abuse crisis: 783 new credible claims last year, most of which date back decades, and costs of nearly $467 million.
While researchers who analyzed 50 years of data on molestation claims concluded the number of new cases is declining, the church is still paying a heavy price for predatory clergy.
The abuse problem was already known to have cost dioceses more than $1 billion since 1950, including some expenses paid last year. Still, Teresa Kettelkamp, director of the bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection, said the total abuse-related expenses shelled out in 2005 were likely the largest for a single year.
The total number of accusations against Catholic clergy stands at more than 12,000 since 1950.