The two dioceses that cover Catholic churches in the Southern Tier both received "credible allegations" in 2007 of alleged priestly sexual misconduct, although no incidents were related to priests currently serving in either jurisdiction.

In the Syracuse Diocese, which covers Broome and Chenango counties, four "credible allegations" were received last year, according to Danielle Cummings, assistant chancellor and director of communications. All were related to incidents that occurred at least 30 years ago.

Three "credible allegations" were filed in 2007 against former priests in the Rochester Diocese, which includes five churches in Tioga County, said Doug Mandelaro, director of communications. Two allegations were lodged against a deceased priest; one was filed against an individual who is out of the ministry.

The local data is contained in an annual report compiled by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. The National Conference of Catholic bishops commissioned the CARA survey several years ago to track allegations and costs related to priestly sexual misconduct following widely reported incidents initially uncovered in the Boston area earlier this decade.

"It is with mixed feelings that I reflect upon the numbers of allegations reported in the CARA survey," said Bishop James M. Moynihan of the Syracuse Diocese. "On one hand, I am left with a heavy heart when I learn of an allegation of abuse from a member of our clergy. ... On the other hand, if there is any good to be found in these years of crisis in the church, it is that those who have been harmed, are now coming forward and seeking healing and in some instances forgiveness."

Both dioceses are spending thousands of dollars to help victims get therapy, as well as to conduct mandatory child-protection training sessions for church leaders, employees and volunteers.

In 2006, Syracuse doled out $39,600 for therapy and $164,992 for safe environment programs, including the Office of Victim Assistance, training and background checks for roughly 18,000 employees and volunteers, according to Cummings.

Mandelaro said Rochester's spending was $13,727 for therapy and $59,200 for child-protection efforts, which also included training for 18,000 clergy, employees and volunteers.

Complaints cited

CARA's national statistics showed 599 new and "credible allegations" of sexual abuse were filed in 2007 against 415 priests or deacons -- a 6 percent decline compared to 2006's total of 635, and 104 less than 2005, according to data voluntarily filed by 194 of the 195 dioceses in the United States, excluding the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb., which refused to participate.

Since CARA started collecting data in 2004, "credible allegations" have declined each year after starting at 898 in the initial survey.

In 2007, all but four allegations were filed by adults over 18 years old who claimed abuse as minors, mainly between 1970 and 1979. By year's end, 43 of the allegations had been ruled unfounded. Just because an allegation was filed in 2007 and considered "new" and "credible" does not mean the alleged abuse occurred last year.

More than 60 percent of the priests or deacons named in 2007 had already been identified in previous allegations. About 78 percent of the accused offenders identified in 2007 are deceased, already removed from the priesthood or missing.

About 60 percent of the allegations were reported by the alleged victim, according to CARA; 82 percent of the alleged victims were males. Just because an allegation was filed in 2007 does not mean the alleged abuse occurred last year.

Across the country, 24 offenders identified in 2007 were removed from ministry, while another 51 named in previous years also were removed last year from ministry.

Fallen from grace

Since sexual misconduct by Catholic clergy began making headlines in the early 2000s, Cummings said Syracuse officials have removed 21 priests from the ministry. One lawsuit is outstanding, she added.

Of the four "credible allegations" filed last year, three involved individuals were already accused in previous complaints, but who are out of the priesthood. The fourth complaint is related to a priest who died decades ago, but had no prior sexual abuse allegations against him, Cummings said.

Prior to the 2007 data, the Syracuse area had been devoid of any "credible allegations" in 2006 or 2005.

In the Rochester Diocese, though, two allegations were lodged in 2006 -- one against a deceased priest dating back to 1954; four had been reported in 2005.

One recent allegation of sexual misconduct involves a former parochial vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows in Vestal, the Rev. John W. Broderick, 47, of Nicholville, whom state police charged in late February with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of second-degree sexual abuse, felonies. The charges are related to alleged inappropriate incidents involving four children in the Town of Palatine, about 120 miles northeast of Binghamton.

Cummings said the Syracuse Diocese suspended Broderick earlier this year, but the suspension had nothing to do with any allegations of child sexual abuse.

Staggering costs

The national aggregate costs related to sexual abuse allegations increased by a dramatic 49.8 percent in 2007 compared to 2006, according to the latest CARA report.

Dioceses across the country paid out $498.68 million last year as settlements, therapy, support for offenders and attorneys' fees, including $420.38 million as settlements to victims. About 34 percent of the total payout is covered by insurance, according to CARA.

The payout last year compares to $332.9 million in 2006 and $445.68 million in 2005. In the initial year of the CARA survey in 2004, nationwide diocesan costs were reported at $139.58 million.

Dioceses also spent $21.03 million for child protection efforts in 2007.

Abuse 'troubling'

"The allegations in this report, like those in past reports, are from the eras of the late 50s, 60s and some into the 1970s," Moynihan said. "Knowing that individuals were hurt years ago and had never revealed it to authorities, to a friend, or a family member is very troubling. It means they have gone on for years without properly addressing their pain."

An abuse survivors' network was skeptical of the CARA report because the data comes from dioceses with vested interests in showing a decline in abuse cases.

"It's tempting but irresponsible to assume progress has been made at this very premature stage," said David Clohessy, of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, based in Chicago. "There always has been and always will be a lag time in reporting abuse."

Contact: WMoyer@pressconnects.com