Washington D.C., Feb 3, 2004 / 22:00 pm
In anticipation of two major studies on clergy sexual abuse that will be released Feb. 27, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights issued a report to help put the recent scandal in the Catholic Church in perspective.
The report was printed to counter the assumption that the problem of sexual abuse is worse in the Church than in any other sector of society.
It compiles data, which indicate that family members are the most likely to sexually molest a child. As well, it shows that the incidence of the sexual abuse of a minor is slightly higher among the Protestant clergy than among the Catholic clergy, and that it is significantly higher among public school teachers than among ministers and priests.
“The report does not seek to exculpate anyone who had anything to do with priestly sexual misconduct, but it does seek to challenge those who continue to treat this issue in isolation,” said Catholic League president William A. Donahue in the preface to the report.