THE FINAL REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED BY THE USCCB IN MARCH 2004.
SEE AFTERWORD.

The Nature and Scope of the Problem
of Sexual Abuse of Minors
by Catholic Priests and Deacons
in the United States

A Research Study Conducted by the
John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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 cooperation of the dioceses/eparchies, of the nature and scope of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The National Review Board engaged the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York to conduct research, summarize the collected data and issue a summary report to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops of its findings. This report by the John Jay College is authorized for publication by the undersigned.

---Msgr. William P. Fay
General Secretary

CONTENTS

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CREDITS: THE JOHN JAY COLLEGE RESEARCH TEAM

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART ONE: The mandate for the study

1.1	Introduction
1.2	Methodology: How the study was carried out
1.3	Study Terminology

PART TWO: Prevalence of abuse of youth under 18 by Catholic priests and deacons

2.1	Estimation of prevalence of sexual abuse of youth under 18 in the United States
2.2	Summary Results: Prevalence of sexual abuse of youth under 18 by Catholic priests and deacons
2.3	Detailed data on prevalence of sexual abuse of youth under 18 by Catholic priests and deacons

PART THREE: The priests and deacons accused of sexual abuse

3.1	Introduction to the problem of child abuse by adult men
3.2	Summary results: Priests and deacons accused of sexual abuse of children under 18
3.3	Demographic characteristics of priests and deacons accused of sexual abuse of youth under 18
3.4	Priests and deacons with behavioral problems
3.5	Priests and deacons and the allegations
3.6	Serial abusers: Priests with multiple allegations
3.7	Criminal prosecutions and penalties

PART FOUR: Incidents and allegations

4.1	Introduction
4.2	Summary of results
4.3	Characteristics of youth under 18 who alleged sexual abuse by Catholic priests and deacons
4.4	Characteristics of acts of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and deacons
4.5	Circumstances of the abuse allegations

PART FIVE: The Response from the diocese and religious communities

5.1	Introduction to the reporting of child sexual abuse
5.2	Reporting of allegations of sexual abuse
5.3	Responses to child sex abuse allegations by dioceses and religious institutes 5.3.1 Actions of dioceses and religious community for priests with substantiated allegations 5.3.2 Actions of dioceses and religious community for priests with unsubstantiated allegations
5.4	Sex offender treatment

PART SIX: Cost to diocese and religious communities

6.1	Total Costs

APPENDIX

A.1.1.1	Questions
A.1.1.2	Diocesan Profile
A.1.1.3	Religious Order Profile
A.1.1.4	Cleric Survey
A.1.1.5	Victim Survey
A.1.1.6	Written Instructions
A.1.1.7	Affirmation
A.1.1.8	DHHS Letter
A.1.2.1	Regions

AFTERWORD