The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released their latest report on clergy abuse and safeguarding efforts, noting a significant decline in new allegations of sexual abuse by clergy over the past year.
The 2024 Annual Report, covering July 2023 through June 2024, tracked 902 allegations from 855 individuals — down by more than 400 from the previous audit cycle, according to the USCCB.
Most of the alleged abusers were not in active ministry at the time the claims were made, according to the report. Data compiled by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate found that over 80% of the 97 identified alleged offenders were already deceased, laicized, or removed from ministry. Eleven were permanently removed over the past year, four were suspended pending investigation, and one remained in active ministry during the investigation.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB, acknowledged the progress but stressed that the Church cannot become complacent.
“Despite our progress, the evil of abuse continues to exist,” he wrote in a preface to the report. “It is a relentless adversary that demands our ongoing vigilance and initiative-taking measures.”
The archbishop emphasized that safeguarding efforts are “not merely bureaucratic necessities but are essential in building a safe and supportive culture for all.”
The report is part of the bishops’ ongoing implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, first adopted in 2002 in response to the abuse crisis. The audit, conducted by StoneBridge Business Partners, reviews diocesan compliance with safety protocols and prevention efforts.
Beyond tracking allegations, the audit also assessed how dioceses supported victim-survivors and trained Church personnel. More than 2.2 million adults and 2.8 million children received abuse prevention education in 2024, the USCCB reported.
Background checks were conducted on over 2.2 million clergy, staff, and volunteers. Outreach and support were extended to 146 individuals reporting new abuse and more than 1,400 individuals who had come forward in earlier years.
According to Archbishop Broglio, the Church is in the midst of a “significant cultural shift.”
“This shift is characterized by an increased emphasis on transparency, accountability, and victim-survivor support,” he wrote. “We are instilling improvements, learning from our mistakes, in how we address and prevent abuse, and making sure that the voices of the victim-survivors are heard, respected, and acted upon.”
The USCCB also shared that 195 of the 196 dioceses and eparchies in the US took part in the audit. Four were found to be out of compliance. One was found to be lacking both a training program and background checks for volunteers. Another diocese had no functioning review board, and one diocese declined to participate in the process altogether.
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