The Archdiocese continues to act on accusations of child sexual abuse by priests as they are received. In 2007, seven new allegations of sexual abuse of a minor were made against six priests of the archdiocese.

Of the six priests, five were previously accused.  The one accused for the first time is deceased.  Of the five living priests, four are permanently removed from ministry and one was suspended from public ministry prior to January 1, 2007 pending final disposition of his case.

The Archdiocese spent about $690,000 in 2007 on expenses related to child abuse by priests. As with earlier such expenditures, the money came from general untargeted revenues available, not from the parish weekly collection basket, not from the Archdiocesan Annual Fund Drive, and not from any other designated collection. Approximately $310,000 was spent in 2007 on child protection efforts such as training and criminal background checks.  As of February 2008, the Archdiocese has fingerprinted 57,000 persons.  Since 1993, more than 80,000 clergy, employees and volunteers who work with children have been trained in the provisions of the Archdiocese's Decree on Child Protection.

Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk urges anyone who was abused as a child by a priest or any other representative of the Archdiocese, or knows someone who was, to report the abuse immediately to the secular legal authorities and to the Victim Assistance Coordinator of the Archdiocese, Sister Mary Garke, at (513) 421-3131 or 1 (800) 686-2724.

In addition, the Catholic Conference of Ohio has established a fund to provide counseling assistance for persons who were sexually abused as minors by clergy or other representatives of the Catholic Church but are reluctant to contact the Church for help. Information about the fund and claims forms is available at www.counselingassistancefund.org