What is the study?

The study is a confidential compilation of the number and description of incidents, offenders, victims, and costs of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests and deacons in the United States between 1950 and 2002.

Who was responsible for the study being conducted?

The National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was responsible for commissioning the study.

Who conducted the study?

The study was conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York.

Why was the John Jay College of Criminal Justice selected to conduct this study?

The John Jay College was selected because of their reputation for research and education in the areas of forensic science, criminology and human behavior.

Who participated in the study?

99% of all dioceses, eparchies and 60% of the religious orders in the United States participated in the study.

What are the components of the study?

The study provides information regarding victims, offenders, incidents of abuse and the costs of therapies, treatment and attorney's fees.

Has a study like this ever be conducted before?

There are no known studies of this type or size on record.

What was the method of collecting the information for the study?

The information was gathered in various ways, primarily through data provided by the dioceses, eparchies and religious orders, but also through review of other, related studies and from public source information regarding criminal activity.

How was the information collected analyzed?

University experts and researchers evaluated the data according to social science research guidelines and methods.

Why are the names of victims not included in the study?

The names of victims are confidential and not relevant to the study.

Why are the names of offenders not included in the study?

The names of offenders are confidential and not relevant to the study.

What steps were taken to ensure confidentiality in this study?

Because no names were asked for, the researchers only know the offenders and victims by an encrypted code number.

Can I purchase a copy of the study?

Yes, to order a copy of the study, click here. Who paid for this study?

The study was financed by the USCCB and a small amount of private funding.

Will there be other studies commissioned by the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops?

Yes, the National Review Board will commission a larger study focusing on the "causes and context" of the crisis of sexual abuse of minors by members of the Catholic clergy in the United States.

When will this study be commissioned?

This study will be commissioned by the National Review Board in the Fall of 2004.

Will Request for Proposal be issued for the "Causes and Context" Study?

Yes, RFP's will be issued and published on this website.

When will the National Review Board announce the contract for the study?

The National Review Board hoped to announce the awarding of its contract for the Causes and Context study by the first of July. Unfortunately, the Board has not been able to meet that deadline due to changes in its membership, the complexity of the undertaking, and the high quality of the submitted proposals. The members have set a new deadline of August 15th for notification of their decision.