BishopAccountability.org
	Another Clergy Sex Abuse Study under Way Bishop Jarrell to Attend Presentation of Research By Trevis R. Badeaux The Advocate November 1, 2007 http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/NEWS01/711010322/1002 This month the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at Fordham University in New York will give bishops from across the nation insight into what caused the clergy sex scandal that has rocked the U.S. Roman Catholic Church. The information comes from research being conducted by the college, which is expected to explain its study's preliminary findings in the context of the crisis. The presentation is part of the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops set for Nov. 12-15 in Baltimore. Monsignor Richard Greene, Lafayette Diocese spokesman, on Wednesday confirmed Bishop Michael Jarrell is scheduled to attend the meeting. However, the bishop received no prior information about the study or its preliminary findings. "He's looking forward to receiving the information at the meeting because it will give important, additional knowledge to a serious problem in our culture," Greene said. Initial findings from a study of the 30-year period 1960-1990 indicates sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests led to social change in the church and the nation. A detailed study into the patterns of abuse incidents and reports is expected to conclude in 2009. Researchers are focusing on incidents and reports from the late 1980s into 2002, when fewer abuse incidents occurred, there was a heightened awareness of the issue in the nation and the number of reports increased. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin, Texas, who chairs the bishops' Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, said in a prepared statement the research results are "significant" for both the church and society as a whole. "The experience of the Catholic Church could inform the practices of many social institutions," Aymond said. The Bishops' Conference contributed more than $1 million toward the study's $2 million price tag thus far. The group seeks additional donations to ensure the study is completed. In 2004, Jarrell announced the Lafayette Diocese and its insurers paid about $26 million in claims filed by a reported 123 victims against 15 priests who served the diocese between 1950 and 2002. Lafayette Diocese insurance providers paid about 96 percent of the $26 million leaving the local church to pay $947,895 from its general fund, which is supported by weekly collections. About $24.3 million was used to compensate victims, $936,727 for was set aside for victim counseling, $463,081 went to treat priests and $286,212 covered legal fees. Contact: tbadeaux@theadvertiser.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.