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	Survey Reports Decline in Number of U.S. Victims of Clergy Abuse By Michelle Boorstein Washington Post March 23, 2010 http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2010/03/survey_alleges_number_of_victims_of_catholic_priests_dropped_in_09.html Even as new clergy sex abuse scandals are unfolding across Catholic Europe, the American church today released its annual survey on the subject, showing -- as the survey has for years -- a drop in number of victims, allegations and perpetrators. The annual survey-- funded by the bishops but done by independent researchers--relies primarily on data supplied by dioceses themselves. It said 398 new victims came forward last year with "credible allegations of sexual abuse" of a minor, down each year from 889 in 2004. They named 286 priests and deacons, 45 percent of whom had never been named before. The U.S. church last year paid out $104 million, including $6.5 million for victims' therapy, $10.9 million for offenders (including therapy and living expenses) and $28.7 million in attorneys' fees. Some advocates for abuse survivors called the survey a sham, noting it relies on data provided by dioceses and that there is no penalty for dioceses that don't participate. To what degree things have changed in the American church since the scandal exploded in Boston almost a decade ago depends very much on one's viewpoint. Some see the Catholic church as a model for other institutions dealing with children, pointing to the creation in most dioceses of a point-person to manage complaints and policies, payments to victims for counseling and other outreach and greater awareness of risks in picking candidates for the priesthood. Others say none of the programs matter without a much tougher line on bishops and others who shuffled abusers to other ministerial posts or ignored the problem. "The rigid hierarchy and bishops set the tone. As long as Catholic employees still see the bishops minimizing and denying clergy sex crimes, they'll do it, too," said David Clohessy, executive director of the group SNAP, or Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
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