ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON DC

Accused Priests: 27
Total Priests: 1,056 (diocesan and extern priests)
Persons Making Accusations: 119
Cost: $4,351,500 (of which $3,200,000 on counseling and other victim assistance, $501,000 on priest evaluation and care, and $650,500 on legal fees)

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 Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. 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.

Cardinal McCarrick Responds to National Reports on Clergy Abuse

February 27, 2004

http://www.adw.org/commun/News.asp?ID=167&Year=2004

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, responded to today’s release of two reports on clergy abuse: a 52-year statistical study commissioned by the nation’s Catholic bishops, and a report on the causes and context of the crisis. The first study was conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and the second, by the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

“When we commissioned this study two years ago, we knew the findings might prove sobering, as well as very difficult to put into context, given no other organization has ever undertaken such a comprehensive study. Yet we also knew it was necessary so we could heal as a Church and ensure that we are taking the right steps to protect young people into the future.

“I am pleased to see that many of the National Review Board’s recommendations are already in place in this Archdiocese, including careful screening and formation of seminarians, pastoral concern for those making allegations, lay consultation and reporting to the authorities. It is my prayer that today’s reports bring further healing and assist us even more in ensuring this crisis never happens again.”

The Archdiocese of Washington has had a child protection policy since 1986 that calls for pastoral care and outreach, stringent seminarian screening, mandated criminal background checks for all who work or volunteer with children, awareness training, lay advisory boards and reporting to the authorities. The policy was called “exemplary” in a national diocesan audit released in January 2004.

In November 2003, the Archdiocese released its statistics for a 56-year period between 1947 and 2003: 27 of 1,056 Archdiocesan and extern priests, or 2.5 percent, were accused of sexual misconduct by 119 minors. At least one priest was exonerated; none are in ministry. Approximately 85 percent of allegations reportedly occurred before 1980, yet half of the allegations were received only after 1994. The Archdiocese offers counseling whenever a credible allegation is made. Since 1947, $3.2 million has gone to counseling and other victim assistance, $501,000 to priest evaluation and care and $650,500 to legal fees, for a total of $4.3 million. The funds came from insurance or insurance-deductible reserves. No funds came from individual contributions, parish funds or the annual Cardinal’s Appeal. No ministries or parish services have been affected. The Child Protection Policy is available at www.adw.org.

Contact:
Susan Gibbs
Office of Communications
301-853-4515
gibbss@adw.org

Archdiocese Announces Child Protection Update and Statistics

November 7, 2003

http://www.adw.org/commun/News.asp?ID=146&Year=2003

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick updated over 250 priests from the Archdiocese of Washington on Archdiocesan child protection efforts during a meeting this week, and released statistics on clergy child abuse in the Archdiocese. The Priests’ Convocation was the first time the priests have met as a group since the Archdiocese released its updated Child Protection Policy on March 19, 2003.

Since March, the Archdiocese has hired a director of child protection services, Ms. Marcia Zvara; implemented a mandatory training program for all employees and volunteers who have substantial contact with children; and increased awareness and implementation of criminal background checks for volunteers and employees who work with children. More than 3,000 people have participated in child protection workshops since August, with training continuing throughout the winter.

In addition to these local initiatives, the Archdiocese of Washington participated in two national efforts that the Catholic bishops of the United States called for as part of the National Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in June 2002. The first was an audit of diocesan compliance with the Charter. While the results are confidential until their national release in January 2004, the auditors did commend the Archdiocese of Washington for its child protection efforts.

Also this summer, the Archdiocese completed an extensive survey commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Review Board to understand the nature and scope of child abuse by clergy over the past 50 years. The national data is expected to be released in February 2004.

A review of records since the Archdiocese separated from Baltimore in 1947 found 27 of 1,056 Archdiocesan and extern priests, or 2.5 percent, were accused of sexual misconduct by 119 minors over a 56-year period. At least one priest was exonerated. None of the priests are in ministry. Approximately 85 percent of the allegations reportedly occurred before 1980, yet half of the allegations were received by the Archdiocese only after 1994.

The Archdiocese offers counseling whenever a credible allegation is made. Since 1947, $3.2 million has gone to counseling and other victim assistance, $501,000 to priest evaluation and care and $650,500 to legal fees, for a total of $4.3 million. The funds came from insurance or insurance-deductible reserves. No funds came from individual contributions, parish funds or the annual Cardinal’s Appeal. No ministries or parish services have been affected. The Child Protection Policy is available at www.adw.org.

Contact:
Susan Gibbs
Office of Communications
301-853-4515
gibbss@adw.org