DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE IN

Accused Diocesan Priests: 15 (4 removed, 11 "not found guilty")
Total Priests: 324 (of which 221 diocesan, 7 externs, and 96 order priests)
Persons Making Allegations: 22
Cost: $264,080 (of which $17,992 for counseling for victims/priests, $23,305 for accused priests' housing, $120,504 for legal fees, $66,809 for separation benefits to removed clergy, and $35,470 for implementing Charter and Norms)

See Cathy Lynn Grossman, Survey: More Clergy Abuse Cases Than Previously Thought (2/10/04) with AP table of data for 74 dioceses.

See the Dallas Morning News database entry on Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger. The June 2002 database examined the records of bishops and identified those who had allowed accused priests to continue working or had otherwise protected priests accused of sexual abuse. The database is relevant to the bishops' "Nature and Scope" study because the bishops who prepared the surveys for the study are in many cases responsible for the "scope" of the problem.

CONSOLATION CANNOT BE FOUND IN ABSTRACTIONS (Part 2)

By Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger
December 19, 2003

http://www.evansville-diocese.org/bishop/forum.htm

Most recently, my heart ached with helplessness as I watched an evening national news report.

It was that of an Iraqi lad who, though alive, had been severely injured by a landmine that exploded in his hands.

In his innocence he, with his friends, was exploring an artifact of war. It exploded in his hands.

The now-seven-year-old must live the rest of his natural life without hands and only partial arms, not to mention disfigurement of his face. Though assisted by incredible international efforts, neither his innocence nor his countenance can ever be restored.

For a very long time, my heart has ached and continues to ache with helplessness for those who, while they were young, lost their wholeness to priests who took advantage of their innocence, leaving them maimed for life.

As with the young Iraqi, no apology by any government responsible for deploying the landmine will replace the hands and arms and countenance of that youngster. His life has been changed.

In the same way, no apology from me the bishop can repair or replace the “innocence lost” because a priest of this diocese failed by sexually abusing any young person entrusted to his pastoral care.

Personally, I acknowledge that I cannot fathom living without “arms and hands.” In no way do I presume to comprehend the loss of innocence by anyone violated by a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Evansville. Such is beyond me.

With an incredible feeling of inadequacy, nonetheless, I repeat “I am sorry!” I apologize to all those who have ever been violated by priests of the Catholic Diocese of Evansville or indeed by any other priest. I pledge an ongoing outreach to victims by providing counseling knowing that “innocence lost” can never be restored.

In similar fashion, I cannot imagine attempting to continue the life of a faithful priest if I were falsely accused. For an innocent priest, the loss of an authentic reputation is as maiming as the loss of hands and arms and countenance. No matter the apology, no matter the exoneration, that priest is maimed for his priestly life. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin is the classic example.

Reluctantly and with great pain I now make the following report in abstract form. It is in the form of numbers as reported to the John Jay College of Criminal Justice whose report will appear in aggregate form on or about February 27, 2004. The following numbers represent our portion of that national report.

Within the last two years, many of the following numbers have already been published in one form or another. Some fiscal items were reported in the January 24, 2003 issue of the Message as part of the Annual Fiscal Report to the Diocese for Fiscal Year ending August 31, 2002. Those items are incorporated in the following summary. Also included in the summary are those costs incurred from September 1, 2002 to date. These current costs are related to the implementation of the Charter and Essential Norms, i.e. Diocesan Review Board, Diocesan Review Administrator and National Audit.

PRIESTS SERVING THE DIOCESE 1944-2003: 324

* Diocesan: 221
* Externs: 7
* Religious: 96

PRIESTS CURRENTLY MINISTERING IN THE DIOCESE: 91

* Diocesan with Assignments: 57
* Diocesan Retired: 26
* Religious with Assignments: 6
* Religious retired within the diocese: 2

PERSONS REPORTING ALLEGATIONS: 22

* Persons making allegations, admitted by priests: 4
* Persons making allegations, priests not found guilty: 4
* Persons making allegations, priests now deceased: 14

PRIESTS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS: 7

* Diocesan, Living: 6
* Deceased since the Report: 1
* Religious: N/A (In report of Respective Ordinaries)

PRIESTS REMOVED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS: 4

* Diocesan, Living: 3
* Diocesan, Deceased: 1 (Cf. above)
* Religious: N/A (In report of Respective Ordinaries)

PRIESTS ACCUSED BUT NOT FOUND GUILTY: 11

* Diocesan, Living, investigated: 3
* Diocesan, Deceased before allegation and not investigated: 8
* Religious: N/A (In report of Respective Ordinaries)

EXPENDITURES ATTRIBUTED TO SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS BY PRIESTS OF
THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE

It must be noted that the following figures may be inadequate for the following reasons:

* Lack of complete fiscal records from the inception of the diocese in 1944

* Inadequate accounting by reason of inclusion of costs attributed directly or indirectly
to misconduct of priests in global accounts

* Seven-year limit on maintaining detail of records of expenditures for costs attributed to priests for assessment and treatment

In the January 24, 2003 issue of the Message costs related to allegations of sexual abuse of minors
were reported in the audited annual financial report. I noted the following:

"In the years that I have been bishop of this diocese, I attest that any costs related to allegations of
sexual abuse of others by priests have been reflected in our annual financial reports. Historically, I have
no evidence to the contrary. Those costs were part of ‘Clergy Assistance,’ an account line which also at
times included nursing home care and a variety of residential and out-patient for depression,
alcohol abuse and substance abuse…."

Following are those numbers with appropriate additions.

EXPENDITURES FOR OUTREACH TO VICTIMS/PRIESTS:

* Counseling: $17,992
* Settlements: $0.00
* Law-suits: $0.00

ASSISTANCE TO ACCUSED CLERGY:

* Housing: $23,305

LEGAL FEES RELATING ONLY TO SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS BY PRIESTS:

* Diocesan: $120,504
* Religious: (NA)

SEPARATION/BENEFITS COSTS TO REMOVED CLERGY:

* Diocesan: $66,809
* Religious: (NA)

DIOCESAN EXPENDITURES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF CHARTER AND ESSENTIAL NORMS:

* Safe Environment Program: $14,519
* Background checks for Clergy and Diocesan Staff: $2,460
* Diocesan Review Board incidental costs: $1,553
* Diocesan Review Administrator: $16,938

Why report all this now? The fact is that it is not just now. There have been regular reports, however
the clearest presentation to date appeared in the Annual Report of Fiscal Year 2001-2002. We are
refining our accounting and reporting procedures to more adequately track such critical information.

Hopefully, by having a chance to see the impact on the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, you will better
understand how blessed we have been. Our priests are wonderful and effective pastors.

Just as one landmine can leave life-long maiming effects and scars, so the failure of a few priests
who have sexually abused minors has left individuals maimed and scarred. Their wrongdoing and sinfulness
have also scarred the reputation of the priests falsely accused and smudged the reputation of all faithful priests.

May the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Healing, touch all of us in both our loss and sorrow!