The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection just released its annual report and is pleased to announce that reports of clergy sexual abuse trended down during the pandemic!
According to the report, which was conducted by StoneBridge Business Partners of Rochester, New York and covers the year from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, there was a slight decline in people alleging they were sexually abused by priests, deacons, and other church officials.
Just 3,924 sexual abuse survivors filed 4,228 allegations in 2020, down from 4,220 filing 4,434 allegations in 2019. So, that’s progress, right?
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While the number of allegations was still incredibly, incredibly high, the report states that only 22 of the allegations, or 1%, were new cases of abuse and the “vast majority of these reports were historical in nature.”
Of those 22 allegations, six were found to be substantiated, two were declared unsubstantiated, seven are still being investigated, three have been determined “unable to be proven,” and four were classified as “other.” Nine of the allegations included the use of child pornography.
Of course, the whole report should be taken with a huge pillar of salt.
Two eparchies refused to participate in the audit (we wonder why?), and two dioceses and two more eparchies were determined to be in noncompliance with auditors (again, why?). On top of that, the pandemic prevented auditors from making on-site visits, meaning much of the information had to be cobbled together online.
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Then, of course, these are only reported cases, and it’s a well-known fact that most sex crimes go unreported. It’s also a well-known fact that the Catholic church isn’t great at keeping records when it comes to this kinda stuff. But, hey, at least they’re trying.
“By the grace of God, the church is working toward being accessible, accountable, and safe,” Deacon Bernie Nojadera, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection, said in a letter accompanying the report. “We continue to rely on the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Our Mother to guide our efforts as we promise to protect and pledge to heal.”
Bless their hearts.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore
DCFarmboy
“Two eparchies refused to participate in the audit (we wonder why?), and two dioceses and two more eparchies were determined to be in noncompliance with auditors (again, why?). ”
Eparchies are not part of the Roman Catholic Church, although in communion with it.
Heywood Jablowme
This is the first time Queerty sent me to a dictionary. Maybe once or twice to Urban Dictionary. But probably they’re referring to the Maronites?
aussiechef
I too had to go to a dictionary for that one – My reference states Eparchy is a province of the “orthodox” church. Do you think the author meant parishes? (Doesn’t take away from the appalling numbers – but any apparent error in reporting of this nature can lead to people doubting the whole content)
Heywood Jablowme
@aussiechef: My first guess is they mean the Maronites: originally from Lebanon and Syria, practice the “Byzantine” or E. Orthodox rite, and in recent centuries acknowledge the Roman pope (I grew up Protestant so probably don’t know the right lingo). A lot of Maronite priests are married, so it would be interesting to see if Maronite priests as a group have a lower rate of pedophilia than other RCC priests do?
blackhook
How can any thinking, breathing, feeling person $upport these Strange Bozos? It’s time to end the #CatholicCriminalEmpire & its Bizarre Babushka of Bullshit! Hocus pocus dominocus indeed!
Bosch
Omigosh, use a creepy priest instead of a hot priest! I’m all like “helloooooo nurse!” and then it’s about Catholic abuse…
humble charlie
The priest was obviously photo-shopped.
Fah tay pantz
Maybe the reduction in number corresponds to the reduction in the number of clergy? Which would technically mean there could be a higher percentage of abuse?
Openminded
Exactly. Add to that that this was during the pandemic shutdown where many families quarantined at home, the accessibility to children was greatly lowered. I’m not sure one couldn’t build a case that the actual ratio of child abuse and accessibility/exposure to children went way up. I find it incredible that we will pass an OSHA law because as few as 200 workers get injured from a particular action, yet we stand back and let the Catholic Church basically police itself with a “reported” 4,000+ incidents of child abuse.
jaegger
Criminals, should be prosecuted!
winemaker
The Roman Catholic Church, unlike the other Christian denominations doesn’t allow marriage for their priests and deacons. for whatever reason I don’t know. Protestant denominations allow their ministers to get married so why doesn’t the Catholic Church? Maybe if the Catholic Church allowed it’s priests and deacons to get married this wouldn’t be an issue. Without a doubt, there are and always will be gay Catholic priests as there are and always be gay Protestant ministers. Living a secret life is no way to live.
Joshooeerr
A more precise way of reading this is: it takes a pandemic to slow reports of sexual abuse by the clergy. It’s not exactly good news then, is it?
If any other organisation on earth had been demonstrated to have inflicted such widespread abuse across many centuries it would be immediately outlawed and closed down. Which is exactly what should happen to the Catholic Church. Anyone supporting this organisation is an enabler.
James
IF YOU BELEIVE ANYTHING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS, YOU SHOULD SEE A PSYCHIATRIST.
Invader7
There were a couple of priests I wanted to “molest” back in the day…..
humble charlie
When will countries wise up and boot this criminal organization out of their countries?