One of the things the U.S. Bishops agreed to do in Dallas two years ago was to commission a study carried out by the John Jay School of Criminal Justice in New York on the extent of sexual abuse of minors by the clergy. On February 27, 2004 the John Jay study will report on the nationwide incidence of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy from 1950 to June 2002, together with other data. Whereas the John Jay study ends with the year 2002, the statistics that follow for the Diocese of Toledo are from 1950 through February 13, 2004.

According to diocesan records, the total number of clerics (i.e. bishops, priests and deacons) serving in the Diocese of Toledo from 1950 through today is approximately 1,753.

Thirty-six (36) of these 1,753 clerics have had allegations of child sexual abuse made against them. This represents 2% of the 1753 clerics. The total number may be broken down as follows: twenty-eight (28) diocesan priests; seven (7) religious order priests and one (1) permanent deacon.

Of the thirty-six (36) accused clerics, nine (9) are deceased; one (1) is under investigation; twenty-three (23) priests and one (1) deacon are barred from any ministry; and two (2) were exonerated of the accusation.

A total of 69 individuals made allegations against the thirty-six (36) clerics. There have been a total of 19 lawsuits filed against the diocese alleging sexual abuse by clergy.

During the course of the past fifty-four (54) years, our best calculation is that the Diocese of Toledo spent $1,107,182 as a result of allegations of sexual abuse of minors. This amount was disbursed as follows: $232,917 in pastoral care and counseling; $180,750 in settlements and $693,515 in legal fees. The expenses incurred over time as a result of sexual abuse of minors have been paid from the Diocesan Insurance Fund. No money has been used for this purpose from any collections or appeals, such as the One Faith … Many Blessings Campaign or the Annual Catholic Appeal.