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The Nature and Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States 195O-2Oo2

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The Nature and Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States 195O-2Oo2 195o THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS BY CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND DEACONS IN THE UNITED STATES 195O-2OO2 A RESEARCH STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE 2oo2THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK • FEBRUARY 2OO4 FOR THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS Washington, D.C. In June 2002 the full body of Catholic bishops of the United States in their General Meeting in Dallas approved the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Charter created a National Review Board, which was assigned responsibility to commission a descriptive study, with the full coop- eration of the dioceses/eparchies, of the nature and scope of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The National Review Board engaged John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York to conduct research, summarize the collected data, and issue a summar y report to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops of its findings. This r eport by the John Jay College is authorized for publication by the undersigned. Msgr. William P. Fay General Secretary USCCB First Printing, June 2004 ISBN 1-57455-627-4 Copyright © 2004, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any for m or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. 3 PART ONE: The mandate for the study 1.1 Introduction . 9 1.2 Methodology: How the study was carried out . 13 1.3 Study terminology . 20 PART TWO: Prevalence of abuse of youths under 18 by Catholic priests and deacons 2.1 Estimation of prevalence of sexual abuse of youths under 18 in the United States . 23 2.2 Summary results: Prevalence of sexual abuse of youths under 18 by Catholic priests and deacons 26 2.3 Detailed data on prevalence of sexual abuse of youths under 18 by Catholic priests . 28 PART THREE: The priests and deacons accused of sexual abuse 3.1 Introduction . 36 3.2 Summary results: Priests and deacons who have allegations of sexual abuse . 39 3.3 Demographic characteristics of priests and deacons accused of sexual abuse of youths under 18 . 40 3.4 Priests with behavioral problems . 45 3.5 Priests and deacons and the allegations . 51 3.6 Serial abusers: Priests with multiple allegations. 57 3.7 Criminal prosecutions and penalties . 59 PART FOUR: Incidents and allegations of child sexual abuse 4.1 Introduction . 66 4.2 Summary results: Characteristics of the incidents of alleged sexual abuse by priests . 68 4.3 Characteristics of children who alleged sexual abuse by Catholic priests . 69 4.4 Characteristics of acts of sexual abuse by Catholic priests . 72 4.5 Circumstances of the abuse allegations . 78 PART FIVE: The response from the dioceses and religious communities 5.1 Introduction . 84 5.2 Reporting of allegations of sexual abuse . 89 5.3 Responses to child sex abuse allegations by dioceses and r eligious communities . 94 5.4 Sex offender treatment . 99 PART SIX: Costs to dioceses and religious communities 6.1 Total costs . 103 APPENDIX A.1.1.1 Questions . 121 A.1.1.2 Diocesan Profile . 123 A.1.1.3 Religious Order Profile . 125 A.1.1.4 Cleric Survey . 127 A.1.1.5 Victim Survey . 139 A.1.1.6 Written Instructions . 140 A.1.1.7 Research Participation Statement . 146 A.1.1.8 DHHS Letter . 149 A.1.2.1 Regions. 150 LITERATURE REVIEW PART I—LITERATURE REVIEW . 153 ESTIMATES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE . 154 Overview . 154 Criminal Justice and Social Service Data . 154 Research Estimates . 156 Reporting Child Sexual Abuse . 157 Victim’s Relationship to the Perpetrator . 158 Severity of Sexual Abuse . 158 Developmental and Cognitive Variables . 159 Fear of Negative Consequences . 159 Gender Differences . 159 Child Sexual Abuse within Specific Organizations. 159 Boy Scouts . 159 Big Brother . 160 Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). 160 Athletic Organizations. 161 Child Caregivers . 161 The Catholic Church. 161 THEORIES AND ETIOLOGY OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE . 163 Biological Theory . 163 Psychodynamic Theory. 164 Behavioral Theory . 164 Attachment Theory . 165 Cognitive-Behavioral Theory. 165 Integrated Theory . 168 Theories of Offending by Catholic Priests . ..
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