Diocese releases abuse statistics for half-century

DATA MADE PUBLIC

In a four-page supplement inside The Evangelist this week, the Diocese of Albany reports that two percent of its priests committed sexual abuse against children over the past 53 years.

The two-percent figure represents 18 priests out of the 814 who served in the Diocese between 1950 and 2003. None of the 18 remains in active ministry.

In the supplement, which can be found in the center of The Evangelist, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard also announces that he will establish a new program in the Diocese to expand on its current efforts to serve victims.

The new program, the Bishop said, will provide "an individualized...response, including pastoral, spiritual and emotional care, and consideration of financial assistance." A more detailed announcement is expected later this week.

National study

The information in the Diocese's report is based on the data it recently provided to the John Jay School of Criminal Justice in New York City. The school was commissioned by the U.S. bishops to do a comprehensive, nationwide survey on clergy abuse. Dioceses throughout the U.S. are participating in the survey.

While the Jay study required data only from 1950 to June 2002, the Diocese's published report expanded that span to include information through Nov. 1 of this year.

The findings of the national study will be announced in February. The Albany Diocese is one of the first dioceses in the nation to issue its own report. Bishop Hubbard chose to provide the statistics now for two reasons.

"Last December, I issued a letter to the Catholics of the Diocese about this issue and said that I would update them. It seems appropriate to do so at the end of the year," he said. "Secondly, I serve on the bishops' ad hoc committee on sexual abuse. It has urged dioceses to release their information sooner, rather than later. I accepted that recommendation."

Drop in abuse

Among the statistics the Bishop found heartening is the "sharp drop-off in the number of occurrences of abuse over the past 20 years."

The data show that occurrences of alleged abuse peaked in the 1960s and '70s, with 2.1 percent of alleged cases happening since 1990, a trend the Bishop termed "a dramatic decline."

While the trend is encouraging, he added that there is still much more to be done to prevent abuse. However, he continued, the figures indicate that "the efforts we have made since the mid-1980s -- screening candidates for the priesthood, for example, and energetically addressing this issue -- are working."

Rise in reports

The Bishop also cited as a positive trend the increase since 2000 "in the number of people coming forward to get healing."

Forty-nine percent of the reports of abuse received by the Diocese were made in the last three years, although they most often refer to events that occurred decades before.

Nonetheless, Bishop Hubbard declared, "one instance of abuse is one too many. The fact that we have substantiated that 18 priests abused minors [over the course of 53 years] is very distressing. The trauma to the victims is heart-breaking."

Analysis coming

Bishop Hubbard said he is looking forward to the results of the national study, which will not only present figures but also analyze them.

For example, when he was asked to explain why abuse cases peaked in the 1960s and '70s, the Bishop replied, "I can speculate about the meaning of the figures, but it would be only speculation. The Church and society were in upheaval at the time. But was that a factor? I don't have the definitive reasons; that's what the John Jay study will attempt to ascertain."

He reasserted the Diocese's commitment to its policy on abuse, saying: "When there is reasonable cause to believe that a priest or deacon has sexually abused a minor, he has been removed. We will be faithful to that. And we continue to encourage victims to come forward for healing. We will respond to their needs."

(The complete report may be read at http://www.rcda.org)

Findings in diocesan report

The Albany Diocese's report on abuse allegations between 1950 and 2003 reveals that:

* 53 members of the clergy were accused of abuse by 121 individuals between 1950 and last month;

* the Diocese found reasonable cause to believe the allegations against 18 of the 53, and none of the 18 remains in active ministry;

* of the remaining 35 priests, allegations against 15 are currently under investigation...11 have been cleared as a result of investigations...but adequate assessment of the cases involving the final nine cannot be carried out at this time. Seven of those nine priests are dead, and two resigned from ministry long before allegations were made against them. Some of the allegations were made by anonymous victims who cannot be reached to provide additional information, and other claims were made by third parties who do not have firsthand knowledge of the events;

* Over the last 53 years, the Diocese has provided about $3 million in compensation to victims, with another $1 million spent on counseling, legal and other costs. All of the money came from the diocesan insurance fund. The total averages out to costs of about $75,000 annually due to clergy abuse of minors;

* During 2003, more than 8,000 diocesan employees and volunteers have been trained to recognize and prevent abuse of minors. In addition, background checks have been completed on 2,000 diocesan employees and volunteers who work with minors. (JB)

(12/4/03)