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	Study Investigates Clergy Sex Abuse Cases United Press International November 18, 2009 http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/11/18/Study-investigates-clergy-sex-abuse-cases/UPI-34971258568188/ WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said initial results of their study on clergy sex abuse shows a decline in such cases in the United States after 1985. John Jay College of Criminal Justice researchers said in an interim report while sexual abuse cases involving clergy and minors increased during the late 1960s and 1970s, a steep decline began after 1985, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a release Tuesday. The bishops group commissioned the $1.8 million study and partially funded the research along with other organizations such as the National Institute of Justice. The initial report suggests the clerics' deviant sexual behavior was consistent with behavioral changes such as increases in drug use and criminal behavior that took place in society during the 1960s, '70s and '80s. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said lead study researcher Karen Terry said initial findings indicate those clergy members involved in acts of sexual abuse with young boys did not typically have a clear pattern of homosexual behavior. "Even though there was sexual abuse of many boys, that doesn't necessarily mean that the person had a homosexual identity," she said. The final version of the report is expected to be released in December 2010.
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