US Catholic Church reports hundreds of new child sex abuse claims

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2006

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Catholic bishops said 783 "credible" claims of child sex abuse by clerics were made last year.

The figure includes nine allegations involving children under the age of 18 in 2005, a statement issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said.

Of the remaining 774 new claims, 87 percent involve abuse that allegedly occurred before the 1990s, it said. Most happened between 1960 and 1979.

The data were collected from surveys completed by 184 of the 195 dioceses (Roman Catholic) and eparchies (Eastern Catholic) in the United States, the statement said.

It was released as part of the Church's annual report of its efforts to repair damage done by sexual abuse involving its clergy and to guard against it happening in the...