Cost of clergy sex abuse now exceeds $1.5 billion

Published: 2006-03-31

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The cumulative financial cost to the U.S. Catholic Church for clerical sexual abuse of minors is now more than $1.5 billion and still climbing. A new report released March 30 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said U.S. dioceses, eparchies (Eastern-rite dioceses) and religious orders spent $467 million last year in settlements, therapy for victims and abusers, attorney fees and other costs related to sexual abuse of minors by priests or deacons. A similar national survey the previous year revealed costs of $158 million. An extensive national study of the U.S. church's sexual abuse costs from 1950 to 2002, completed in early 2004, revealed costs during that period of at least $573 million. The bishops did no national survey of 2003 costs, but a review of Catholic News Service archives shows that diocesan payments just for settlements and victim compensation funds that year ran more than $180 million.

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