BishopAccountability.org
	City Diocese Reports No Abuse in '06 Associated Press, carried in The Patriot-News [Harrisburg] April 15, 2007 http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1176591311289940.xml&coll=1 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg said it received no credible allegations of sexual abuse by clerics against minors last year, It was the second straight year no such allegations were reported, the diocese said. However, the diocese paid $6,865 in 2006 to cover the cost of therapy for victims, spokesman Joseph Aponick said in a news release Friday. The diocese also spent $117,984 in 2006 for child protection efforts, training programs, background checks and related costs. It continues to provide counseling or other assistance to six victims of sexual abuse and family members, according to Mark Totaro, diocesan victim assistance coordinator. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned an annual survey in 2002 to collect information on allegations of sexual abuse of minors, the clergy against whom the allegations are made and the money dioceses and Eastern Orthodox Church eparchies spend as a result of allegations and in child protection efforts. The 2006 report, released last week, showed that allegations of sexual abuse against minors by clergy fell by 9 percent from the previous year, according to the conference Web site. Bishop Gregory Aymond, head of the bishops committee, reported that 1,092 abuse claims were filed in 2004, 783 the next year and 714 last year. In addition, allegation-related expenditures decreased by 15 percent from the previous year, and money spent on child protection efforts increased 35 percent from the previous year, the survey showed. Since 2002, the Harrisburg diocese has required criminal record checks on everyone likely to have regular contact with children, Aponick said. Programs on ways to prevent and recognize sexual abuse of minors have been presented to train employees, volunteers, students and parents. Contact: jpatton@patriot-news.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.