Bishops approve gathering yearly data on new sex abuse cases, costs

Published: 2004-11-17

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops approved a proposal to gather annual information on the number of new sex abuse accusations against clergy and other church personnel, the resolution of existing cases and the related costs of handling such cases for dioceses. By a 137-85 vote Nov. 17, the bishops decided to include the gathering of this data in the annual audits to see if dioceses and eparchies, or Eastern-rite dioceses, are complying with sex abuse prevention policies. Having such national data "on the aggregate will be good news," said Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City, S.D., member of the bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, which drafted the proposal. The information is needed to show how effective church policies are in curbing child sex abuse, he said. "Getting accurate information to our people is to our advantage," he said, noting that news organizations and other groups will be gathering partial information on abuse.

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