US Catholic Church: $120 Million Paid to Pedophilia Victims

The US Catholic Church spent between June 2013 and June 2014 $120 million in compensation to victims of sexual abuse and $30 million for programs to combat pedophilia, according to the annual report commissioned by the bishops, the Patria News Agency reports on Friday.

This 12th report highlights that $120 million was spent on compensation, victim therapy, and legal costs, while about thirty million was used for prevention, specifies the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The American Church publishes an annual report on abuse allegations and the church's efforts following the outbreak of the pedophile priest scandal in the US in 2002, when the Archbishop of Boston admitted to protecting a priest responsible for numerous sexual abuses.

During the 2013/14 period, 657 accusations of priestly pedophilia were received, of which 130 were found to be founded, 243 are under investigation, but the rest were not proven.

Thirty-seven cases reported to secular authorities involve currently underage persons, of which six were confirmed, and the rest are subject to investigation or unproven, adds the Conference.