(ZENIT News / Washington, DC, 19.01.2025).- A recent Report, published by Georgetown’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), puts the persistent crisis in focus of abuses in the Catholic Church in the United States, but it also points out an encouraging tendency: the cases of abuse have decreased drastically and have become increasingly rare over the last decades. This document, based on 20 years of surveys commissioned by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States (USCCB), offers an exhaustive analysis of one of the darkest chapters of the religious institution.
The Report points out that over 90% of the complaints of abuse compiled occurred before 1990, and only 3% correspond to incidents recorded since 2000. This reflects that the majority of cases happened in a period prior to the efforts of reform implemented over the last decades.
Between 2004 and 2024, there was a total of 16,276 complaints of abuse against minors by clerics and religious. Of these, around 82% were considered credible. Although the impact is devastating, the Report underscores that the majority of the alleged perpetrators are no longer active in ministry: 86% have died, have been laicized or are retired.
Victims and Patterns
The analysis reveals disquieting patterns: four out of five victims were men and more than half were between 10 and 14 years old at the time of the abuse. This information stresses the need to continue working on policies of prevention and accompaniment that protect minors and eradicate the abuse of power and trust.
Economic and Moral Costs
The financial impact of this crisis is colossal. The Dioceses and Religious Orders have disbursed more than US$5 billion (exactly US$5,025, 346, 893) over the last 20 years, the majority destined to compensations for the victims and legal fees. Although insurance companies have covered a part of these costs, their contribution has decreased drastically over the last decade, leaving religious institutions with a greater economic burden.
Reforms and Signs of Hope
Despite the devastating historical scope of the problem, the Report suggests that the reforms implemented since the end of the 20th century are marking a difference. The implementation of stricter policies, such as the “Letter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” adopted in 2002, has contributed to the reduction of recent incidents.
The Report also underscores the crucial role of transparency and of institutional commitment to address the crisis. Although the Catholic Church still faces significant challenges in terms of credibility and public trust, this study offers a basis to continue advancing towards a culture of greater security and responsibility.
Towards a More Secure Future
The decrease in new cases of abuse over the last two decades is a step in the right direction, but it cannot be a motive for complacency. The Catholic Church in the United States faces the constant challenge to guarantee that the errors of the past are not repeated and to offer justice and reparation to the victims.
