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	Catholic Church Sex Abuse Allegations Double in One Year By Tim Ross The Telegraph July 28, 2011 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8669205/Catholic-Church-sex-abuse-allegations-double-in-one-year.html Baroness Scotland, chair of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission for England and Wales, said the fact that some priests lived “a fairly lonely existence” may have been a factor contributing to the sexual abuse scandal. Her comments came as figures showed that the number of victims alleging they were abused by Catholic priests and other members of the religious community had doubled in a year. The commission welcomed the rise as a sign that victims felt more comfortable coming forward to report their cases, partly as a result of last year’s visit to Britain by Pope Benedict XVI, who met abuse survivors. Baroness Scotland, a former Labour minister, said she wanted the issue of abuse, including sexual attacks and violence against both children and vulnerable adults, to be openly discussed in church groups across the country. Priests may also need more support, she said. “One of the things that came out very strongly from the research is that those who abuse have often seen themselves as being very lonely, isolated and unsupported emotionally. “For some it is a fairly lonely existence. Acknowledging that that may be a factor means we need to look at how the dioceses and the community support the local religious community too.” She said ministry was “a two way street”, with priests ministering to worshippers and the laity offering support back to the clerics. “We all live very busy, full lives. The priests and religious people are people too – they need friendship and comfort and someone to have a glass of wine with and watch the football or whatever it is. That is something that people sometimes forget. It is a two-way process,” she said. Figures from the commission showed that cases involving 103 victims of alleged abuse were reported in 2010, compared with 52 victims’ cases in 2009. There were 18 people who alleged that they were abused during the course of 2010, the same number as during the previous year. Baroness Scotland said the fact that the Pope had met abuse victims during his visit to Britain last year and had spoken strongly about the scandal had encouraged more people to speak out. She said figures suggested that child abuse was no more prevalent among priests than other sections of society. “But that fact in itself is still very shocking and painful for those who love the Church,” she said. Many believed that those who “put on the priestly garb” would exempt from “the general flaws of humanity”, she said.
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