ABUSE AN ‘EPIDEMIC’ (More priests were accused than had been acknowledged; lay group says bishops put ‘heads in the sand’)

Newsday/Carol Eisenberg

A panel of prominent lay Roman Catholics Friday portrayed an epidemic of sex abuse in theCatholic Church involving at least 4 percent of the nation's priests over five decades, laying mostof the blame on the shameful leadership of the nation's bishops. Almost 11,000 allegations ofsexual abuse involving 4,392 priests over the last half century.

The report release on Friday by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops provides a demographicbreakdown of sexual abuse cases against priests or deacons. The survey, conducted by the John JayCollege of Criminal Justice, was sent out in April to dioceses nationally.

OVERVIEW

Total active priests in 1950 2002: 94,607-109,694

Number of priests or deacons that have been accused: 4,392 (4%)

Number of people who accused priests or deacons: 10,667

THE VICTIMS

Their age (at time of abuse) and Percent of cases:

7 and younger - 6%

8-10 - 16%

11-14 - 51%

15-17 - 27%

Length of abuse and Percent of cases:

Less than a year - 38%

1-2 years - 22%

2-4 years - 28%

5-9 years - 10%

10 or more years - 1%

THE ACCUSED

Repeat offender? (# of allegations against them) and Percent of accused priests:

1 - 56%

2-3 - 27%

4-9 - 14%

10 or more - 4%

Criminal action against the 4,392 accused:

- 615 were investigated by police

- 217 have been charged

- 138 were convicted

- 100 received prison sentences

For the complete study, as well as the report by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on theproblems in church, go to www.newsday.com/nation

(Washington)