Latest sex abuse report finds drop in reported victims

Published: 2007-04-11

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The number of people who said they are victims of clergy child sex abuse has dropped 34 percent since 2004, according to a national survey of dioceses and religious orders. The survey was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University in conjunction with the 2006 audit on U.S. church compliance with child protection policies. The annual report on the survey and audit showed the same drop since 2004 in the number of credible allegations made and a 40 percent drop in the number of reported offenders. The report collected data on credible allegations and costs related to child sex abuse in 2006 and compared them to the figures gathered in 2004 and 2005. Lawyers' fees continued to skyrocket in 2006 but the amount of money paid out in settlements dropped by nearly $122 million from 2005, it said. Lawyers' fees totaled $75.1 million in 2006, an 82 percent rise from the 2005 figure of $41.2 million, the report said. Also on a major upswing was the amount of money paid for living expenses, therapy and other support of offenders, it said.

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