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National Clergy Abuse Study:
Overview for Parish Leaders

• In the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the U.S. bishops called for a study on the nature and scope of child sexual abuse by clergy.
• The results of that unprecedented study - the first ever of its kind by any organization or group - will be announced on Friday, February 27, 2004. The research was conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.
• The bishops will not have the data much in advance to prepare a response or pastoral materials for parishes.
• The information will be national, not broken out by dioceses (because of privacy issues for victims and the accused), and will include the number of clergy accused, the number, age and gender of victims, when the incidents allegedly occurred and were reported, whether alcohol or other factors were involved, the cost of counseling, etc., over a 52-year period (1950-2002).
• Given the prevalence of child abuse in society in general and the size of the Catholic Church , it is likely the numbers will be notable. Even one case, of course, is too many.
• Although the National Review Board also will release a "context" report on Feb. 27, based on 60 extensive interviews with a variety of experts, it may be hard to provide context since no study like this has ever been done. A report on the scope of the Catholic Church's ministry in the United States is online at www.usccb.org/comm/cip.htm.
• Media reports, especially since this is being released midday on a Friday, are expected to be along the lines of, "x children abused by y pedophile priests costs Church $z million." It is likely media will want to be in parishes or at the Cathedral on Sunday for reaction stories.
• The Diocese of Arlington has had a Policy on the Protection of Children/Young People and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and/or Child Abuse since 1991.
• The Diocese of Arlington released its data - submitted for the national study - on February 18, 2004: nine priests (one was exonerated) have been accused by 11 individuals since 1974, when the Diocese of Arlington separated from Richmond. That is 1% of the 891 diocesan and religious priests who have served in the diocese since 1974. We have no priests in ministry whom we know to have harmed a child. All of the alleged incidents occurred before 1994. The cost of victim counseling, settlements, and associated legal fees was approximately $155,000 over 30 years. These funds came from insurance and general operating revenues of the diocese. The annual diocesan fund-raising appeal (the Bishop's Lenten Appeal) and the capital campaign (Rooted in Faith - Forward in Hope) funds are received as restricted gifts and used only for the areas stated in campaign materials.
• We encourage anyone with an allegation to come forward to the authorities and to the diocesan Child Protection Director and Victim Assistance Coordinator, Jennifer Alvaro (703-841-2529), and we ask everyone to pray for all those involved with and hurt by child abuse. The Policy on the Protection of Children/Young People is available online at www.arlingtondiocese.org.
• Please note the announcement of the national survey results will be webcast live, Feb. 27, 10:00 a.m. on the U.S. bishops' website, www.usccb.org. EWTN will broadcast a town hall meeting from The Catholic University of America with members of the National Review Board and others at 8:00 p.m. that evening.