UNITED STATES
Christian Post
BY LEONARDO BLAIR , CP REPORTER
April 3, 2014Sexual abuse scandals have cost the U.S. Catholic Church nearly $3 billion dollars over an eight year period; and according to a report released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last month, the scourge has not gone away.
The report, titled ‘Report on the Implementation of the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People,’ said in 2013 alone sexual misconduct by clergy cost the American dioceses $108,954,109. Of that amount, just over $61 million went toward settlements while another $6.1 million went toward therapy for abuse victims. Some $28.9 million went toward attorneys’ fees, while $10.4 million went toward the support of the errant priests.
The report pegged the full cost of the sexual abuse scandals on American dioceses and religious institutes between 2004 and 2012 at $2,744,881,843: $2,351,903,157 for dioceses and eparchies. Scandals cost religious institutes $392,978,686.
Dioceses, eparchies and religious orders also spent an additional $41,721,675 on child protection initiatives in 2013, according to a review by Catholic Online.
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