The National Catholic Safeguarding Commission, a lay body formed in 2008 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in England and Wales and the Conference of Religious, released its annual report on July 24 and found that there were 49 allegations of abuse against a minor in 2011. “Of the 49 alleged abusers, 28 are clergy or religious, 9 volunteers, 5 employees, and 7 parishioners,” the report stated. “26 victims allege that the abuse occurred in the 1980’s or before, with 1 in the 1940’s and 4 in the 1950’s. 25 victims allege that the abuse occurred in 2011.”
“37 victims alleged sexual abuse, 13 physical abuse, 8 emotional abuse,” the report continued.
“This represents a significant reduction in the proportion of sexual abuse allegations compared with an equally significant increase in the proportion of physical abuse allegations.”
Statutory investigations of 18 of the 49 allegations are still in progress, and two of the 2011 allegations have resulted in sentencing. In 29 cases, police decided to take no further action.
According to the report, three English and Welsh diocesan priests and one religious were laicized in 2012, with a total of 26 diocesan priests and 16 religious laicized since 2004.