2006: Roman Catholic Church received 714 clergy sex abuse claims

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*False Churches, False Brethren, False Gospels

2006: Roman Catholic Church received 714 clergy sex abuse claims*

11.04.2007

Roman Catholic bishops and religious orders in America received 714
clergy sex abuse claims in 2006.

Costs related to abuse cases decreased - by about 15 percent over the
last year - mainly due to a decline in what dioceses paid to settle
molestation cases.

Dioceses and religious orders paid nearly $399 million in 2006 for
settlements with victims, attorney fees and support for accusers and
offenders. For 2005, that figure was $467 million - considered the
highest ever for a single year.

The findings, set for release Wednesday, are part of an annual review
that the bishops first commissioned in 2002 as they implemented reforms
to better safeguard children at the height of the clergy sex abuse crisis.

But more work is needed to address the problem, a key church official said.

"The bishops have done a lot and have spent a lot of money in a lot of
different areas, but it's not all done, as you can tell by the number of
victims still coming forward," said Teresa Kettelkamp, executive
director of the bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection.