U.S. Church Spent $5 Billion on Abuse Allegations: 65% of Accusers Got Money
Three-quarters of the $5.025 billion went to alleged victims, 17% to lawyers, 6% to support alleged abusers, and 2% to other costs. On average, only 16% of the costs were paid by insurance companies.
Over the 20 years, respondents reported 16,276 "credible" allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. These "credible" allegations represent 65% of all allegations against Church institutions.
The report defines "credible allegations" as having a "semblance of truth" and being sufficiently substantiated to be forwarded to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The report estimates 4,490 alleged perpetrators, of whom 80% were diocesan priests, 15% were priests from religious orders, 4% were religious brothers and 1% were deacons.
The majority of "credible" allegations involved abuse that began before 1980. 92% involved abuse that began before 1989.
In contrast, 542 "credible" allegations involved abuse that began after the year 2000.
80% of the alleged victims were male.
More than half were between the ages of 10 and 14. 24% were between 15 and 17. Another 20% were 9 years or younger.
The financial costs have reshaped the Catholic Church in the United States. 40 Catholic dioceses and religious orders have filed for bankruptcy and sold off much of their property.
The time when most abuses happened was immediately after Second Vatican Council.
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