Home / Promise to Protect. Pledge to Heal / Pastoral Letter

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:

At the beginning of this decade, the bishops of the United States renewed and refocused their attention on issues of sexual abuse as they relate to priests, deacons, and our society as a whole. These have been difficult days for those who have been victims of sexual abuse and for all of us in the Church. With this letter, I want to provide you with information about our situation in the Archdiocese of Detroit, dating back to 1950. In February 2004, aggregate statistics for all U.S. dioceses were released. It is painful for us to face this matter, but I want you to know the scope of the problem. I also want you to know that we are committed to continuing our efforts to assist victims, create safe environments, and do all we can to protect children and young people in our Church and society.

On June 14, 2002, the bishops of the United States gathered in Dallas and adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The charter addressed the issue of sexual abuse of children and young people by some priests and bishops, as well as the way the bishops of the United States addressed these crimes and sins. The bishops acknowledged that what they may have done in the past in addressing these matters had, in some instances, caused great pain and confusion. As a body, the bishops accepted responsibility for the mistakes of the past and took responsibility for dealing with the problem strongly and effectively in the future.

On Dec. 8, 2002, the Vatican Congregation for Bishops approved a document known as Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests and Deacons. These norms became church law for the United States and required, among other things, the establishment of a Review Board consisting of a majority of laypersons not in the employ of the church. In addition, the norms addressed the matter of reporting to civil authorities crimes of abuse and established that any priest who has committed even one act of sexual abuse of a minor shall not continue in active ministry, and referenced the canonical process that must be followed to permanently remove a priest or deacon from ministry.

The charter established an Office for Child and Youth Protection to provide assistance to dioceses in addressing these difficult matters. A National Review Board was established to assist the Office for Child and Youth Protection and monitor its activities. The National Review Board was directed to commission a comprehensive study of the causes and context of the present crisis.

On Jan. 6, 2004, the results of an audit of compliance by the dioceses of the United States to the requirements of the charter and the norms were issued. The Detroit archdiocese was found to be full compliance with the norms and charter. In addition, there were four commendations and four recommendations. We continue to work on areas that need improvement. (A similar audit for the calendar year 2004 again found the archdiocese to be "fully compliant.")

Since 1988, the archdiocese has had a published policy on the sexual abuse of minors and a Review Board in place. During the summer of 2002, the nature and the structure of this board were reconstituted to assure compliance with the charter and norms. The charge given to the Review Board is outlined in a letter from the board members to me summarizing their first year and a half of deliberations. I am most grateful to the members of the board, the archdiocesan staff who work with them, and Bishop Walter Hurley, my delegate for these matters, for the commitment and dedication they have brought to this important work.

On Feb. 27, 2004, the National Review Board released a study of sexual abuse by members of the Catholic clergy in the United States since 1950. The report was commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Known as the John Jay Study it seeks to provide a "descriptive study… of the nature and scope of the problem including statistics" on perpetrators and victims. While the study itself covers the period between 1950 and Dec. 2002, the figures presented on our web site are kept up to date.

As the report indicates, approximately 3,267 priests and deacons served in the archdiocese between 1950 and Feb. 2004. During his time period, 63 of that total number, or 1.93%, have been accused of sexually abusing a minor or minors. 43 (1.32%) were archdiocesan priests, 23 of whom are deceased; 18 (.55%) were religious order members; and 2 (.07%) were deacons, 1 of whom is deceased. (Subsequent to the release of the John Jay Study, 3 other cases were brought forward to the archdiocese.) Pursuant to an agreement with prosecutors in the six counties of the archdiocese reached in the spring of 2002, information on these cases was turned over to appropriate civil authorities for their review and necessary action. None of the archdiocesan clerics named in these cases remain in public ordained ministry. Subsequent to establishment of the 1988 archdiocesan policy, 30 of the clerics involved were restricted or removed from public priestly ministry.  Of that number, eight are deceased.  (Cases involving members of religious institutes are referred and first addressed by the superior generals of those organizations.) From 1950 to 2004, the number of victims known to the archdiocese as a result of these cases is 120.

Starting in 1950, our best calculation is that the archdiocese spent $2,450,000 on various settlements and counseling costs for victims. In June of 2002, the archdiocese released information that $952,000 had been paid in confidential settlements that included provisions for counseling in some instances. That figure covered allegations brought to archdiocese between 1987-2002 and that were, as per our agreement, reported to the prosecutors. To that number must be added a settlement prior to 1987 of $325,000 of which outside insurance carriers paid $301,500. As of 2008, the total figure (from 1950 forward) comes to the above referenced $2,450,000, of which $601,500 was paid by outside insurance carriers.

In the early years, to provide for these expenses, the money came from insurance policies. When such insurance became unattainable, the Detroit archdiocese and the other dioceses of Michigan set up a special fund similar to "self insurance" from investment income to replace the insurance coverage previously purchased. These funds grew to the point where the original deposit was then returned to the respective dioceses. The interest was left to provide the coverage that might be needed. No other funds have been set aside or deposits made to the fund for this purpose. No CSA or parish assessment money has been used to pay for these expenses.

The John Jay Study includes the total number of accused perpetrators and victims for the whole country, as well as the total costs for the entire Church in the United States. I wanted you to know how the Archdiocese of Detroit fits into that bigger picture. While the numbers are large, it is regrettable that there is no other body of data by any other institution or profession available for comparison. Perhaps the issuance of the John Jay Study will encourage others to gather data so that, as a society, we can come to better terms with this tragic reality that has harmed many people.

I want once again to offer my apologies to those who have been victimized and for our failures to address this matter more appropriately. If someone has been the victim of sexual abuse by a cleric, I invite him or her to come forward and contact our toll free line at (866) 343-8055 so that we may provide assistance where appropriate.

During these difficult days, I encourage all people in the church to work towards creating safe environments for our children and young people. I renew my invitation to all my brothers and sisters in the archdiocese to join me in prayer and penance for our past failures, for the grace and determination to continue our efforts to heal and protect. Our obligation to protect children and young people flows from the mission and example of Jesus, in whose name we serve.

With God's blessings, I am
Sincerely yours in the Lord,

†Adam Cardinal Maida
Archbishop of Detroit