Locality | State | Catholics | Abused | Boys (3.3%) | Girls (1.7%) | Disclosed/Resolved (3%) - Estimated | Barred - SoL (90%) | Suicide risk |
United States | [ALL] | 66,300,000 | 1,646,892 | 1,072,071 | 574,821 | 49,407 | (G 32,162) | (B 17,245) | - --- |
| 1,482,203 | 329,378 |
United States | Utah | 1,371,000 | 34,056 | 22,169 | 11,887 | 1,022 | (G 665) | (B 357) | - --- |
| 30,650 | 6,811 |
United States | North Dakota | 485,000 | 12,047 | 7,842 | 4,205 | 361 | (G 235) | (B 126) | - --- |
| 10,843 | 2,409 |
United States | Rhode Island | 754,000 | 18,729 | 12,192 | 6,537 | 562 | (G 366) | (B 196) | - --- |
| 16,856 | 3,746 |
United States | Alabama | 2,858,000 | 70,993 | 46,214 | 24,779 | 2,130 | (G 1,386) | (B 743) | - --- |
| 63,893 | 14,199 |
United States | Louisiana | 2,959,000 | 73,502 | 47,847 | 25,655 | 2,205 | (G 1,435) | (B 770) | - --- |
| 66,151 | 14,700 |
United States | Mississippi | 1,804,000 | 44,811 | 29,171 | 15,641 | 1,344 | (G 875) | (B 469) | - --- |
| 40,330 | 8,962 |
United States | South Dakota | 474,000 | 11,774 | 7,665 | 4,110 | 353 | (G 230) | (B 123) | - --- |
| 10,597 | 2,355 |
United States | Oklahoma | 2,097,000 | 52,089 | 33,908 | 18,181 | 1,563 | (G 1,017) | (B 545) | - --- |
| 46,881 | 10,418 |
United States | Minnesota | 2,807,000 | 69,726 | 45,389 | 24,337 | 2,092 | (G 1,362) | (B 730) | - --- |
| 62,753 | 13,945 |
United States | Wisconsin | 3,125,000 | 77,625 | 50,531 | 27,094 | 2,329 | (G 1,516) | (B 813) | - --- |
| 69,863 | 15,525 |
World |
| 1,200,000,000 | 29,619,840 | 19,015,920 | 10,603,920 | 888,595 | (G 570,478) | (B 318,118) | - --- |
| 26,657,856 | 5,923,968 |
Estimating the numbers
" ... a random survey of over 7,000 active Catholics in the U.S. and Canada found a closer ratio, that 1.7 percent of the females and 3.3percent of the males had been sexually abused in childhood by a priest..." (Katherine van Wormer, MSSW, Ph.D.) Psychology Today - Priest abuse male compared female victimization impact published May 20, 2010.
Using these numbers as a base whilst recognising that a substantialnumber of victims would have already left the church the followingformula is used to calculate a low estimate of the number of sexualabuse victims in a given population of Catholics.
1.2 billion catholics
1.7% females abused = 10,404,000 [1.7% of 51.98% of the Catholic population]
3.3% males abused = 19,404,000 [3.3% of 48.02% of the Catholic population]
29,808,000 [combined males and females] Catholics identify themselves as having been sexually abused in childhood by a Catholic priest.
This formula can be applied to any population.
Estimate number of Australian Catholics sexually abused in their childhood by Catholic priests.
Australia 5,239,000 million catholics (2006 Census)
Estimated number of survivors who have been "finalized" (completed church or legal process) in Australia between 1000 and 4000.
1.7% females abused = 45,422
3.3% males abused = 84,715
Data sources:
http://www.usccb.org/
http://www.ato.gov.au/
http://www.ncls.org.au/
http://www.ppo.catholic.org.au/
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/
http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/
"Once a cult gets big enough to dominate large areas of life (generallylarge enough to kill people) and gets official recognition, it becomes a 'religion'." Silverwhistle.
"A review of the literature on priest/clergy abuse reveals that
for both genders the typical survivor became disillusioned with the churchand suffered a loss of religious faith as a result of the abuse and thesubsequent institutional response to the abuse. An inadequate amount of research has been done to determine the full extent of suicideattempts or completed suicides of victims of this form of abuse. Oneestimate in the literature is that 20 percent of children who wereabused by religious authorities considered suicide at some point.""...two major themes: loss of religious faith, and attacks on theirpersonal integrity when they told of the abuse."
Psychology Today - Priest abuse male compared female victimization impactIt is estimated that only approximately 3% obtain a resolution via thecourts or the church; this leaves 117,000 survivors without any form ofjustice or adequate treatment and support. The vast majority of thesesurvivors will be in receipt of some form of government benefit orpension.
Survivors of sexual abuse who were not'institutionalised' were excluded from the recent "ForgottenAustralians" apology. No legislation to assist victims has been passedin an Australian Parliament to aid these or other victims ofinstitutional or clergy abuse.
Statute of limitations laws remain in effect in all Australian States with the exception of South Australia.
This clearly defined subset of Catholics and ex-Catholics can be shown to be the subject of discrimination on the basis of the status of theirabusers.
"Knowledge is when a mind possesses an idea...belief is when an idea possesses a mind".
Faith is belief without evidence.