The US Bishops have published the twenty-first annual report since 2002 when they adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a comprehensive framework of procedures to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy and establish protocols to protect children and young people.

The 2023 report states that 1,254 victim survivors came forward with 1,308 allegations. This is a decrease of 1,396 allegations reported in the previous audit year, due in part to the resolution of allegations received as a result of lawsuits, compensation programs and bankruptcies. Allegations involving current minors account for 17 reports. All other allegations were made by adults alleging events that occurred when they were minors. The most frequent method of reporting an allegation was through an attorney which represented 877 (67%) allegations, followed by self-disclosed reporting at 313 (23%). Other methods of reporting totaling 118 reports were made by a spouse, relative or other representative.

During the audit period, dioceses and eparchies provided outreach and support to 183 victim survivors and their families, and continued support was provided to 1,662 victim survivors who had reported in prior audit periods. The report notes the ongoing work of the Catholic Church in ensuring the safety of children and vulnerable adults. In 2023, the Church conducted 2,145,719 background checks on clergy, employees, and volunteers. Additionally, in 2023, over 2.1 million adults and over 2.8 million children and youth were trained in how to identify the warning signs of abuse and how to report those signs.

The USCCB’s Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and the National Review Board continue to emphasize that the audit and continued application of zero-tolerance policies are two important tools in the Church’s broader program of creating a culture of protection and healing that exceeds the requirements of the Charter.