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PDF versionCosts for clergy sex abuse at $2.6 billion
Baker, Ore., and Lincoln, Neb., dioceses refuse on-site audits
Mar. 14, 2009
Cover of the 2009 report on clergy abuse
WASHINGTON
U.S. dioceses and religious orders spent more than $436 million in 2008 on settlements and other costs related to clergy sex abuse, a decrease of 29 percent over the $615 million paid out in the peak year of 2007.
Those figures were in the information made public March 13 in the sixth annual report on implementation of the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," adopted by the U.S. Catholic bishops in 2002. The report was produced under the direction of the all-lay National Review Board, established by the bishops to monitor compliance with the charter.
The report summarized data collected from dioceses, eparchies and religious orders for calendar year 2008 by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, as well as the results of audits of most U.S. dioceses and eparchies conducted between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008.
CARA found that in 2008 U.S. dioceses and eparchies received 625 new allegations of child sex abuse by clergy, but only 10 of them involved children who were under the age of 18 in 2008. Similarly, in 2008 U.S. religious orders that include priests and brothers or priests alone received 178 new credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, only three of which involved children who were minors in 2008.
Twelve percent, or 78, of the new allegations made against diocesan clergy in 2008 were unsubstantiated or determined to be false by the end of the year. Another 51 allegations received prior to 2008 were unsubstantiated or proven false during 2008.
The majority of new allegations were related to abuse reported to have occurred in the 1970s, for diocesan clergy, and in the 1960s, for members of religious orders.
In a letter submitted with the report, Teresa M. Kettelkamp, executive director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the report contains "good news" that often goes unreported.
"Clearly, we have faced horrible situations, but I believe that the Catholic Church has turned a corner on addressing sexual abuse of children," she said. "Is every diocese doing everything perfectly? No, we are not there yet, though we're far closer than we were last year and the year before that and all previous years."
Kettelkamp said the Catholic Church is becoming "one of the safest havens in our world for children and young people" and "a resource for people beyond the Catholic Church who seek to confront this societal scourge."
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"The bishops can be proud of what they have accomplished and their ongoing commitment to address this issue," she added. "That's progress and that's good news."
Victims' advocates, however, raised questions about a section in the report that said "many dioceses are conducting ... investigations themselves without also making a report to civil authorities," which would be a direct violation of the bishops' 2002 reforms.
David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, told Religion News Service that he worries that children may be at risk while church officials sift through allegations without first alerting law enforcement.
"To be honest, this is precisely what got us into this mess to begin with: untrained, biased church amateurs trying to be cops, investigators, forensic experts and prosecutors," Clohessy said.
Kettlekamp, however, said her report raised the issue only as a cautionary warning to dioceses not to try to handle criminal behavior on their own. She said she would not include it in a "problem category."
"Our rule of thumb is that if it involves a current minor, you involve the civil authorities immediately and rely on their expertise," she said in an interview. "I'm not saying we have this problem; I'm saying I don't want this to become a problem."
The increase from 691 total allegations in 2007 to 803 in 2008 appears to be fueled by a 93 percent spike in abuse involving members of religious communities. Those allegations nearly doubled, from 92 to 178; 40 percent of the 2008 allegations involved one religious order.
By comparison, the total number of allegations reported by the nation's 195 dioceses increased by 26, or 4 percent, from 2007.
The report showed that dioceses, eparchies and religious orders spent nearly $2.1 billion in the years 2004-2008 on settlements, therapy for victims, support for offenders, attorneys' fees and other costs related to clerical sex abuse.
The Associated Press reported that total costs to the U.S. church have run to $2.6 billion.
The $23 million spent by dioceses and eparchies on child protection efforts in 2008 represented a $2 million increase over the previous year but a $2 million decrease over the amount spent in 2006.
The other costs -- totaling $4.2 million in 2008 -- included payments for investigations of allegations, medical costs and other support for victims or survivors, costs for mediation, travel expenses for victims, costs for victims' assistance offices and victim hot lines, clergy misconduct review boards, public service announcements and outreach materials, canonical trials and case processing, bankruptcy expenses and USCCB compliance audit costs.
Two dioceses -- Baker, Ore., and Lincoln, Neb., -- and five ethnic Eastern rite jurisdictions refused to allow on-site audits of their compliance with the bishops' sex abuse policies. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln also refused to cooperate with researchers from Georgetown University who collected data from all 194 other dioceses.
Participating in the CARA study in 2008 were 194 of the 195 U.S. dioceses and eparchies and 160 of the 219 clerical or mixed religious orders belonging to the (U.S.) Conference of Major Superiors of Men. .
The CARA study also found that:
- Allegations of sex abuse reported by dioceses or eparchies predominantly involved male victims (84 percent male vs. 16 percent female), but females made up 33 percent of the alleged victims of religious-order priests in 2008.
- More than half (51 percent) of the allegations against diocesan or eparchial clergy in 2008 were reported by the victim, while 60 percent of those against religious-order priests were made by an attorney.
- Sixteen priests or deacons were returned to ministry in 2008 after sex abuse allegations against them were found to be unsubstantiated or proven false.
- More than half (52 percent) of the victims who made new allegations of sex abuse against diocesan/eparchial clergy in 2008 and 30 percent of those making new charges against religious-order priests were between the ages of 10 and 14 when the abuse began. But in 5 percent of the diocesan cases and 45 percent of the religious-order cases the age of the victims at the time the abuse started was not known.
- Forty-one percent of the diocesan priests and deacons and 55 percent of the religious-order priests accused of abuse in 2008 had had no prior allegations against them.
- The vast majority of priests or deacons against whom new allegations of sex abuse were received in 2008 -- 83 percent of the diocesan/eparchial clergy and nearly 70 percent of the religious-order priests -- were deceased, already removed from ministry or missing when the charges were made. Another 5 percent of diocesan and 12 percent of religious-order priests were permanently removed from ministry because of allegations received against them that year.
Editor's Note: The full report is available online at www.usccb.org/ocyp/annual_report2008.shtml.
(Report by Kevin Eckstrom of Religion News Service was included in this article.)
Its really a sad thing that
Its really a sad thing that such sin did occur in the first place. On the money, it is legally due and should be paid to the extent of the then existing law. If the Catholic Church in the USA paid that much, one can only guess at the size of the payouts made at any institution that deals with children and do not make the press. I hope that people are not naive enough to think that this is an isolated Catholic priest related problem. One merely has to read the news, this stuff happens with awful frequency across all demographics. I'm not pointing fingers, but I have heard it said that the Catholic Church is not the largest institutional aggregate, merely (and ironically) the most transparent payor at this time. Pray for all concerned and affected by these awful acts...
Maybe not. I have heard that
Maybe not. I have heard that public school districts have payment caps in place that limit the amounts. Can anyone offer solid information about this?
Transparency has come much
Transparency has come much too late, unfortunately. That's the irony in my view. The hope is that transparency will become the M.O. That is the lesson.
btw: Did you get any info. as to who is the largest "institutional aggregate"????
"Baker, Ore., and Lincoln,
"Baker, Ore., and Lincoln, Neb., dioceses refuse on-site audits"
Ah, yes, audits refused by dioceses dictated over by 2 of the "More Catholic Than The Pope" cowardly clerics.
Whatcha afraid of, boyz??? Skeletons in yer closets, maybe?
The pew potatoes in these dioceses deserve the clerical leadership that they get. They have a very powerful financial vote. However, considering these two locations, I suspect that the sheep are definitely of the "pray, pay and just obey" persuasion.
The remarks made by Mr.
The remarks made by Mr. McCrea regarding our diocese and our Bishop are insulting and clearly not based on knowledge. Nor do they reflect the Charity of Christ. Do you personally know those you so sarcastically call "boyz"? I do and I am a member of the Diocese of Baker.
Catholics in Oregon are every bit as aware and concerned about the safety of children as any diocese in the country. How dare you accuse people you do not even know of such a lack of attention to this issue. Are you even a Catholic? Your tone is certainly questionable.
Bishop Vasa is a loving and holy shepard who instead of cursing the dark has actually lit a very bright candle against assault on children. If you have not witnessed or viewed "To Protect and Prevent", which was sponsored by Bishop Vasa you are not informed enough to be speaking on this topic.
The Catholic Medical Association, including some of the best minds in childhood development and psychology, believe this to be the first program that seeks to break the cycle of abuse.
Because the USCCB bought into programs that were marketed to them and signed off on by attorneys, does not mean they are good for children.
I have heard comment ( and it
I have heard comment ( and it seems logical) that teachers are the most at risk profession for sexual abuse of children.Lawyers tend not to focus on them because damages awarded in law suits against school boards are caped.(seen as needed to preserve societie's overiding interest in maintaining the education of the young) Be that as it may, for generations, this crime has silently been perpetuated against the young. Because of their victimization,some victims become victimizers of the next generation. Christ is crucified in each and every one of them. In this generation he has called his priest,the vast majority of whome are totaly innocent, to share the scandle of that cross.Certainly not the scandle of the calvery cross, but scandle, never the less.Now that we are able to see as in the light of day, may the shame and suffering of all victims and the quite lesser but related shame of all innocent priest,generate a society more capable of protecting our youth.
Why aren't these clergy who
Why aren't these clergy who are found guilty not EXCOMMUNICATED like the little girl and others in Brazil????
One RULE for the children of God and ANOTHER RULE for the HIERARCHY, the BULLIES.
Where is the JUSTICE of this attitude of the RCC?
The RCC is sadly losing ITS CREDIBILITY with the children of God.
A very concerned catholic
Melbourne
Australia
17/3/09
There are Canon laws, it is
There are Canon laws, it is just that they are RARELY enforced -when it involves ADULTERY, RAPE,SEX, SODOMY and PROMISCUITY!
for example: http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/state/story/480629.html
This is the fox guarding the chicken-coup method that has long been known not to work.
******************************************************************************
Canon Law. 277
§1. Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and therefore are bound to celibacy which is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and are able to dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and humanity.
§2. Clerics are to behave with due prudence towards persons whose company can endanger their obligation to observe continence or give rise to scandal among the faithful.
§3. The diocesan bishop is competent to establish more specific norms concerning this matter and to pass judgment in particular cases concerning the observance of this obligation.
Why aren't all of these
Why aren't all of these sexually abusive priests not only excommunicated, but in jail (for the rest of their natural lives)? In the case of diocesan clergy, why hasn't their personal property been taken from them as well? Why should diocesan money continue to pay for these guys? The Bishops are the sick ones who screwed this whole situation up. Isn't it interesting that every time there is a problem in the Cathoilic Church it involves the clergy!!! Hmmmm!
Hi Jim, I live in the Baker
Hi Jim,
I live in the Baker Diocese. Our bishop, Rob Vasa CAME from Lincoln. He is a hyper-conservative type, and his tenure has not been a good thing for the area in MY view. He has made a point of getting rid of all religious men or women in the diocese, including the friars who started our parish nearly 100 years ago. He has had very little by way of "oversight". When I have asked the Portland Archdiocese for help, advice or direction, they will not lift a finger. The Baker diocese is very large land-wise (64,000 square miles), with very few priests, now, a third have been imported from Africa and latin countries. I very much wish there was SOME kind of oversight of this guy. I don't think he has been a positive influence on those of us who live here, and been told we are not welcome to participate.
To be fair, Vasa says "he does not want to teach children to be suspicious of adults", and wants their parents to do that, so he HAS instituted programs to make parents more vigilant. What makes him so much wiser than the other 194 dioceses, I can't understand. I think it is time for the bishops in the Northwest to show some pastoral care and leadership, and review the situation here. For those of you who do not understand what it is like to live in such a vast area, with few options, consider yourselves blest. Mass in the next diocese over is like 150 miles away over rough terrain, for me.
-Daniel
Kettelkamp pats the bishops
Kettelkamp pats the bishops on the back with the statement that, "The bishops can be proud of what they have accomplished and their ongoing commitment to address this issue," she added. "That's progress and that's good news." She is far too quick with her praise. I say that for two reasons. One, the bishops have done nothing to address their own abuse of power. Virtus training addresses the problem of identifying the sex offender. That was not the problem. The problem was bishops covering up the crimes. This is the problem they have not addressed. Since abuse of power is the crime, the restitution can come only when bishops give up the very power they abused. If you steal money and confess that sin, any priest worth his salt will require that you give the money back as a first step in making restitution. The bishops can expect nothing less for their own failure. Second, it often takes years for victims of sexual abuse to garner the courage to report the abuse. The very report Kettelkamp refers to bears this out, given that most of the allegations stem from the 60's and 70's. We have not seen those from later periods, especially the present. Virtus may very well drive the abusers further underground, making it harder to identify them, since the abusers know what you are looking. No, it is far too soon to be patting the bishops on the back. Parents were able to identify the abusers long before Virtus hit the scene.
I am curious why the Bishops
I am curious why the Bishops of Lincoln, Nebraska and Baker, Oregon are allowed to refuse to comply with the audits. Can we get a response from Archbishop Vlazny of Portland, OR. concerning the Baker Diocese? Is there no accountability?
I live in the Baker Diocese.
I live in the Baker Diocese. We had reason to appeal to the Archbishop of Portland on another matter. It was a great revelation. The Archbishop also carries the title of "Metropolitan" that gives him only advisory oversight. We found out the hard way the the Bishop is "King" in his diocese. I suppose Rome might have some influence, but even letters to the Pontifical Representative in Washington, D.C. offered no respite. Members of our particular parish had no idea of the complete autonomy of a Bishop.h
Every Catholic who feels
Every Catholic who feels strongly enough ought to look up both those dioceses on the internet and send those coward, disgraceful bishops a letter telling them how they feel. Why are they allowed to act this way? The vatican should make them comply. This is bad for the entire church not just the cowards in those two cities. I just think it's possible to remain in a church that has come to look at itself as royalty that can do what it wants. Let them have cake!
Just think of it as another
Just think of it as another "bailout" - this time we're bailing out the American Catholic clergy. Like most bailouts lately, it's being done because of the irresponsible actions of a few who apparently cannot be allowed to "go under". In business, the bailouts are followed by bonuses for the guilty. In the Church - it's plum assignments in the Vatican.
To the credit of the American economy, the payments down the line are limited to the dollars involved - some higher taxes and cuts in spending will eventually wipe away our financial sins. Unfortunately, the stench of scandal and cover-up will hang over the Church, long after the bills are paid. It will be there until the Church hierarchy - in America and the Vatican, admits to wilfully harming the Church - just for the purpose of retaining the power structure. I'm not holding my breath.
How can bishops get away with
How can bishops get away with not complying? That affects the truth of the process. This became necessary because Bishops didn't do their "jobs" to begin with and put children at risk.How do the bishops expect to be leaders in morality if they do not follow the rules themselves. Please don't preach to us and tell us what we should be doing. The private sector would not get away with it.
The remarks made by Mr.
The remarks made by Mr. McCrea regarding our diocese and our Bishop are insulting and clearly not based on knowledge. Nor do they reflect the Charity of Christ. Do you personally know those you so sarcastically call "boyz"? I do and I am a member of the Diocese of Baker.
Catholics in Oregon are every bit as aware and concerned about the safety of children as any diocese in the country. How dare you accuse people you do not even know of such a lack of attention to this issue. Are you even a Catholic? Your tone is certainly questionable.
Bishop Vasa is a loving and holy shepard who instead of cursing the dark has actually lit a very bright candle against assault on children. If you have not witnessed or viewed "To Protect and Prevent", which was sponsored by Bishop Vasa you are not informed enough to be speaking on this topic.
The Catholic Medical Association, including some of the best minds in childhood development and psychology, believe this to be the first program that seeks to break the cycle of abuse.
Because the USCCB bought into programs that were marketed to them and signed off on by attorneys, does not mean they are good for children.
Bishop Vasa is my bishop and
Bishop Vasa is my bishop and I am very proud of him and what he is doing to prevent abuse of children. If anyone is interested in the truth of what he is doing and has done, I would be happy to enlighten them.
Others here who have said they live in this diocese and have made negative remarks are those who miss the previous pastor, (for whom confession was optional, the Eucharist was disrespected, the Cathechism was foreign and all responsibility was left to a dissident sister who performed a wiccan dance every Thanksgiving!) Thank God and our Holy Father for sending us a good Bishop and holy priests! The dissidents have left for the closest protestant church and our Catholic children are safe and learning in a true Catholic school!
Alicia, I think that you are
Alicia,
I think that you are totally misinformed. Your comments speak of someone who waers blinders and really can't see the trees for the forest. How can so many people be diddidents and you are right?
To Anony: Have you viewed
To Anony: Have you viewed the program? Do you know Bishop Vasa personally?
Did you witness disrespect of the Blessed Sacrament by those who finally left? Do you believe in the Real Presence?
You are misinformed because the majority of our parishoners have stayed and are happy with our new pastor and priests. It is a small, but noisy, rude and uncatechised few that left. They are like spoiled children who kick and scream if their bad behavior is not rewarded.
We pray for them, but do not miss their lack of charity and their profound disrespect for the Eucharist.
If you do not find yourself in that role, then don't defend them, especially out of ignorance of the facts.
I will without hesitation always defend Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. If you believe that makes me out of step, you really should check the path you are on.
Why doesn't anyone admit that
Why doesn't anyone admit that this is the reason the Church is selling off their properties in the US? So we the faithful are footing the bill by giving up our parishes that we have supported. Why doesn't Rome sell off some things and pay up so we don't have to give up our homes.
G
It seems to cost a lot of
It seems to cost a lot of money to fix the sins of a few.
And it is sad that the children will carry this pain with them for the rest of their lives.
Seems a shame that in this difficult economy those who are innocent of this sin are called to carry the financial and spiritual burden.
Is Christ being crucified again in the victims?
What could be the reasons for
What could be the reasons for refusing to comply with USCCB unanimously accepted program to stop sexual abuse? 1. The diocese has not now and/or has never had sexual abuse, (and this means, not only priests, but also religious sisters, teachers, custodians, chaplains, secretaries) 2. The diocese has had sexual abuse problems, but does not, for whatever reason, want the problems to become public, or 3. This is a chance to 'stand up' to the rest of the US Catholic Bishops and 'act out' so to speak in a 'my way or the highway' attitude.
Since it is not #1--that would be the only 2 dioceses in the US without an abuser--highly improbable.
Then it must be #2 or #3. If it is #2, then it is a question of putting ecclesiastical interests before the law. Quite an act of injustice to those who were abused, since they cannot seek remuneration and justice for acts committed against them.
If it is #3, then it is a question of putting me ahead of children. Quite an act of pride. Reminds me of the gospel connection--millstone-->neck-->sea.
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