The findings are part of an annual review the American bishops commissioned in 2002 as the abuse crisis consumed the church. A companion audit of bishops' child safety policies found that nearly every diocese was following the plan.

Auditors found that some layclergy review boards-created in every ' diocese to help bishops respond to abuse-hadn't met in more than a year because no new allegations had been made. Two archdioceses-Denver and Anchorage-hadn't reported abuse claims to civil authorities until after the lapse was discovered in the audit.

"I think this is too important an issue to tire of it," [Teresa Kettelkamp] said. "Just because the number of victims has decreased, don't feel that there aren't more victims out there needing encouragement to come forward."

The bishops responded by enacting the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which requires dioceses to conduct background checks on workers, provide safety training to children and reach out to victims.

Settlements & damages
Child abuse & neglect