900 accused clergy not included on sex abuse lists: report

More than 900 clergy members who have been accused of child sexual abuse were not included on lists released by their dioceses and religious orders, The Associated Press reported Friday. 

At least 100 former clergy members who were not on the sex abuse lists have been charged with sex crimes, the wire service found. 

The AP came to these numbers by comparing public lists of almost 5,300 names of credibly accused priests with a database compiled by the group BishopAccountability.org and by going through bankruptcy documents, lawsuits, media reports, settlement information and grand jury reports.

Clergy members were reportedly left off lists for a variety of reasons, including because their cases were deemed not credible by church boards or because they died and were unable to defend themselves. 

“If your goal is protecting kids and healing victims, your lists will be as broad and detailed as possible,” David Clohessy, the leader of the St. Louis chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, told the AP. “If your goal is protecting your reputation and institution, it will be narrow and vague. And that’s the choice most bishops are making.”

Accusations of sexual abuse have plagued the Catholic church for decades.