Clergy Abuse Cases Decline Aid for Children Increased, by Bronislaus B. Kush, Telegram & Gazette [Worcester], April 22, 2007

Clergy Abuse Cases Decline
Aid for Children Increased

By Bronislaus B. Kush
Telegram & Gazette [Worcester]
April 22, 2007

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070422/NEWS/704220494/1116

Reported allegations of sexual abuse against minors by Roman Catholic clergy dropped appreciably last year from 2005 levels, but the expenses related to the charges continue to significantly affect the church, a study commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops shows.

According to a survey of 99 percent of the country's dioceses and eparchies, allegations of sexual misconduct against children and young people fell by 9 percent.

Church officials stressed that 70 percent of the reported incidents actually occurred between 1960 and 1984, and they said that 70 percent of the alleged offenders are deceased, had already been removed from the ministry or had left the priesthood or various religious orders.

Overall, allegation-related expenses nationally cost the church almost $398.6 million last year.

Sixty percent of those accused in 2006 had been named previously in other cases.

Nineteen percent of the allegations concerned individuals who were minors in 2006.

In all, 147 victims made complaints.

"This is a sobering report," said Bishop Gregory Aymond, the chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, after the release of the survey last week. "The decline in the reported cases is good. Most allegations were for behavior which took place decades ago, but the fact that there are any recent cases at all is disconcerting."

Church officials, meanwhile, said that money spent on child protection efforts increased 35 percent from 2005 to 2006.

In the Diocese of Worcester, $124,272 was earmarked for the Office of Healing and Prevention in fiscal 2006 to aid victims.

Overall, allegation-related expenses nationally cost the church almost $398.6 million last year.

The expenditures, down about 15 percent from 2005, included money for settlements ($220,099,188), therapy for victims ($9,731,815), support for offenders ($30,362,609), lawyers' fees ($69,780,366) and other costs ($2,996,581).

Local and national church officials said the outreach to victims is important because it creates a safe environment for children and renews confidence in Catholic churches, schools and other institutions.

They admitted the sexual-abuse scandal has undermined the faith and weakened the authority of bishops and priests — adding that church leaders must continue their vigilance and must fully commit to evaluating all personnel associated with church work.

In November 2004, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University to design and conduct an annual survey of all member dioceses and eparchies, or dioceses of the Eastern Orthodox churches that are associated with the USCCB.

The purpose of the audit is to collect information on new allegations and to gather information on the amount of money expended.

The Winthrop-based Gavin Group Inc. was contracted to collect and collate audit material.

The 2006 survey included responses from 193 of the 195 dioceses and eparchies.

The report does not include data from four dioceses that either refused to participate or were late in sending in findings.

Nondiocesan orders and religious institutes were also invited to conduct similar surveys.

Contact Bronislaus B. Kush by e-mail at bkush@telegram.com