NEW YORK - ROMAN Catholic dioceses and religious orders saw a rise in molestation claims against clergy last year, according to a report released on Friday by the US bishops.
Nearly all the 803 cases involved adults who said they had been abused as children decades ago.
Church leaders paid less in settlements, attorney fees and other abuse-related costs in 2008.
Still, the amount reached just over US$436 million (S$672.5 million), bringing the total payouts for abuse to more than US$2.6 billion (S$4 billion) since 1950, according to studies commissioned by the prelates.
As part of the study, auditors found that all but one of the dioceses they evaluated had fully implemented the bishops' child protection policies by the end of the year.
The safeguards include background checks for employees and volunteers, safe environment training for children and a discipline plan for offenders that removes them from any public church work. -- AP
