America’s Catholic sex claims falling

NEW YORK – America’s Roman Catholic bishops and religious orders received 714 clergy sex abuse claims in 2006, the second consecutive year that the number of allegations has dropped, according to a new report on the church’s child protection reforms.

Costs related to abuse cases also decreased – by about 15% over the last year – mainly due to a decline in what dioceses paid to settle molestation cases. Dioceses and religious orders paid nearly $399m in 2006 for settlements with victims, attorney fees and support for accusers and offenders.For 2005, that figure was $467m – considered the highest ever for a single year.The findings are part of an annual review that the bishops first commissioned in 2002 as they implemented reforms to better safeguard children at the height of the clergy sex abuse crisis.The declining number of claims – there were 1 092 in 2004 and 783 the next year – could be taken as evidence that the church is gradually gaining control over the crisis, especially since the vast majority of allegations date back decades.But more work is needed to address the problem, a key church official said.”The bishops have done a lot and have spent a lot of money in a lot of different areas, but it’s not all done, as you can tell by the number of victims still coming forward,” said Teresa Kettelkamp, executive director of the bishops’ Office of Child and Youth Protection.Catholic leaders say abuse-related costs have exceeded $1.5bn since 1950.More than 13 000 molestation claims have been filed against clergy since then.Bishop Gregory Aymond, head of the bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, called the findings ‘sobering’.”The decline in reported cases is good,” Aymond said, “but the fact that there are any recent cases at all is very disconcerting”.Nampa-APDioceses and religious orders paid nearly $399m in 2006 for settlements with victims, attorney fees and support for accusers and offenders.For 2005, that figure was $467m – considered the highest ever for a single year.The findings are part of an annual review that the bishops first commissioned in 2002 as they implemented reforms to better safeguard children at the height of the clergy sex abuse crisis.The declining number of claims – there were 1 092 in 2004 and 783 the next year – could be taken as evidence that the church is gradually gaining control over the crisis, especially since the vast majority of allegations date back decades.But more work is needed to address the problem, a key church official said.”The bishops have done a lot and have spent a lot of money in a lot of different areas, but it’s not all done, as you can tell by the number of victims still coming forward,” said Teresa Kettelkamp, executive director of the bishops’ Office of Child and Youth Protection.Catholic leaders say abuse-related costs have exceeded $1.5bn since 1950.More than 13 000 molestation claims have been filed against clergy since then.Bishop Gregory Aymond, head of the bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, called the findings ‘sobering’.”The decline in reported cases is good,” Aymond said, “but the fact that there are any recent cases at all is very disconcerting”.Nampa-AP