Incidence of abuse in South Carolina lower than nationally

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The incidence of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in South Carolina was lower than the national average during the past half century, church officials announced Friday.

But Bishop Robert Baker, bishop of the statewide Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, said even one case of abuse is one too many.

"These are, after all, not only our children; they are the children of God as well," he said.

"The Diocese of Charleston is adamant that the abuse of children, including physical injury, sexual molestation, sexual exploitation or grave emotional damage will not be tolerated," Baker said.

The South Carolina statistics were released as the national Roman Catholic church released a similar report - the first church-sanctioned tally of abuse cases.

The national report found there had been 10,667 abuse claims nationwide between 1950 and 2002. About 4 percent of all American clerics who served nationally during the period were accused of abuse.

In South Carolina, there were 45 allegations of abuse determined to be credible against 21 priests, one deacon and one deacon candidate. That represents about 2.7 percent of the clergy who worked in the diocese during the decades of the study.

Of those accused, eight are dead and seven are retired from the ministry. One was removed from the ministry, three are on administrative leave, one left the ministry of his own accord and one is in jail.

In addition, one returned to his own country while one deacon candidate was never ordained, according church figures.

The diocese said $2.6 million has been paid over the years to settle sexual abuse allegations, $642,000 of that by insurance companies. Another $646,000 has been paid for counseling and legal fees related to sexual abuse allegations.

Baker said he didn't know how the church figures compared with the incidence of sexual abuse in society as a whole because there are no figures for the latter.

"I don't think any other church has done this that I know of - any other religious institution or any other major institution," he said. "Hopefully, our challenge will be to other groups to do the same."

He said dealing with allegations is painful for everyone.

"I can understand the complication of family members not reporting incidents of sexual abuse," Baker said. "In every single situation we dealt with, there are a lot of ramifications and there is a lot of pain. We have been through it a number of times.

"People in society need to be aware it's going on, it's happening," he said. "Unless people confront that realistically as we have done, painful as it is, sexual abuse of minors will continue."

The statewide diocese has 118 active parishes and missions as well as 27 schools, including two high schools.

South Carolina's Catholic population had grown rapidly in recent years. In 1999, there were 126,794 Catholics in the state - about 70 percent more than in 1989 when there were 75,382.

Baker, the 12th bishop of the diocese, was installed in September 1999.