CHICAGO--A study that chronicled abuse claims in the Catholic Church has made young people safer, according to the head of the panel formed by Catholic bishops to investigate clerical sex abuse.
Newsday reports that Illinois Appellate Judge Anne Burke said Catholics should be encouraged because the church has taken steps to quickly address future misconduct allegations.
"Minors are safer today than they were before," Burke told the City Club of Chicago.
The National Review Board's survey listed 10,667 abuse claims against Catholic priests nationwide since 1950. The survey found 4 percent of all U.S. priests who served during those years have been accused of abuse.
Victim advocates have criticized the study for relying on self-reporting by bishops. They claim the numbers of abusers are too low.
But besides the victims, the scandal has taken a toll on the majority of priests, who were uninvolved in abuses.
"They suffered heartache and disparagement because of the actions of a few priests," said Burke.
Burke became interim chairwoman of the panel after former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating stepped down.
Burke said the church must screen candidates for the priesthood more closely and urged church officials to be more sensitive to victims. She also said allegations of abuse should be reported to civil authorities.
