Allegations of sexual abuse against children within churches across the globe reveal a disturbing pattern that spans decades and continents. Reports from 18 countries have surfaced, highlighting thousands of cases where children, including boys, were victimized by clergy and other church officials. Many survivors do not come forward until later in life, often after the age of 50, when the opportunity for justice is limited due to the passage of time and the aging or death of the perpetrators.
Church institutions are often accused of suppressing these cases, silencing victims, and shielding accused clergy members. Instead of facing consequences, many accused priests are reassigned to different locations, where their actions often remain hidden from the public eye. In some cases, the institutions offer public apologies or financial settlements to address the fallout from scandals, but critics argue that these measures do little to prevent future abuse.
Historical data points to systemic abuse dating back to the mid-20th century or earlier. For instance, between 1950 and 2018, the Catholic Church in the United States received credible accusations involving 7,002 clergy members. In Ireland, it is estimated that nearly 15,000 minors were abused by clergy between 1970 and 1990.
High-profile cases have brought international attention to the issue. In Australia, Cardinal George Pell, a former Vatican finance chief, was convicted in 2018 of sexually abusing choirboys in the 1990s. Similarly, in France, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin received a six-month suspended sentence in 2019 for covering up abuse by a priest.
Germany’s Protestant churches have also faced scrutiny. A January 2024 report revealed that 9,355 children and young people were sexually abused in Protestant churches and charities since 1946, involving an estimated 3,497 perpetrators, about a third of whom were clergy or religious officials.
Research shows that over half of child sexual abuse survivors delay reporting until middle age or later. This delay, compounded by institutional cover-ups, allows many perpetrators to avoid accountability, perpetuating a cycle of abuse and impunity.
Let us take a look at 26 incidents of child abuse in 18 countries around the world.
#1 USA – Rephidim Church Pastor Ron Killingsworth Sentenced For Child Sex Crimes
Pastor Ronnie Allen Killingsworth, 79, of Wichita Falls, was convicted on 7 May 2024, on six counts of indecency with a child by contact involving three underage victims between 2000 and 2011. On 8 May 2024, the jury sentenced him to 84 years in prison and $60,000 in fines. Sentences for four counts will run concurrently, with two running consecutively, meaning Killingsworth must serve 21 years before parole eligibility, at age 100. Victims testified about the trauma caused by the abuse and trial.
#2 USA – Former Youth Pastor Arrested For Sexual Assault.
Hipolito Gomez-Perdomo, a former youth pastor from Fort Collins, was arrested in March 2024 for sexually assaulting multiple children over three decades. Investigations began in 2023 after a victim reported abuse from the early 2000s and revealed other teenagers had also been harmed. A reopened 2019 case and a new victim’s account of late 1990s abuse led to his arrest. Gomez-Perdomo, associated with Vida Abundante church, faces multiple felony charges and a $200,000 bond. Authorities suspect more victims and encourage them to come forward.
#3 USA – AG Releases Report On Sexual Abuse Allegations At Gaylord Catholic Diocese
In January 2024, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a report detailing sexual abuse allegations against 26 priests and two deacons in the Diocese of Gaylord between 1951 and 2021. The 130-page report revealed systemic cover-ups, with most cases uncharged due to statutes of limitations. Allegations include abuse by clergy who remained active in the ministry despite credible accusations. Recent cases include inappropriate behavior, social media misconduct, and abuse allegations. Nessel emphasized transparency and victim support, acknowledging the survivors’ courage in speaking out. The report highlighted longstanding issues within the Catholic Church, aiming to help victims heal and prevent future abuse.
#4 USA – Illinois Report Details Scale Of Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse
In May 2023, a report by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul revealed 451 Catholic clergy sexually abused 1,997 children in the state since 1950, far exceeding the 103 abusers the Church initially acknowledged. Triggered by a 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report, the nearly 700-page document exposes harrowing accounts of abuse, ignored allegations, and systemic failures, including relocating abusers like notorious predator Father Daniel McCormack. Survivors faced lasting mental health struggles, and advocacy group SNAP criticized the Church’s weak policies. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich apologized and pledged vigilance, while SNAP urged further investigations, renaming buildings linked to abusers, and honoring survivors with memorials.
#5 USA – Catholic Priests Abused 1,000 Children In Pennsylvania
In August 2018, a Pennsylvania grand jury report exposed decades of sexual abuse by over 300 Catholic priests, harming more than 1,000 children across six dioceses. The nearly 900-page report detailed harrowing accounts, including priests impregnating minors, raping boys as young as seven, and collecting disturbing trophies from abused girls. Most cases were too old for prosecution, though two priests faced charges. The report revealed systemic cover-ups by church leaders, who protected abusers and ignored victims. It called for abolishing statutes of limitations on child abuse and expanding legal recourse for survivors.
#6 – Wisconsin Priest Accused Of Molesting 200 Deaf Boys
In 2010, Rev. Lawrence Murphy, a Catholic priest, was accused of molesting around 200 deaf boys at St. John’s School for the Deaf in Milwaukee from the 1950s to 1974. Victims recount harrowing abuse, including assaults in the confessional and dormitories. Despite appeals by Wisconsin bishops in the 1990s to hold a church trial, the Vatican, led by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, declined due to the time elapsed and Murphy’s ill health. Murphy, who died in 1998, escaped prosecution due to statutes of limitations. The Vatican denied a cover-up, sparking criticism of Pope Benedict XVI’s handling of the case and wider clerical abuse.
#7 USA – Fr. Rodrigue Sentenced To 10 Years For Abusing 150 Victims
In 1992, Fr. Rodrigue was accused of multiple instances of sexual harassment and abuse, with victims including altar boys and other minors who served in the dioceses where he worked. According to a report by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, Fr. Rodrigue admitted to sexually abusing an average of four to five children each year. After further investigation, a total of 150 victims were identified. Fr. Rodrigue was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crimes.
#8 Germany – Report Reveals Over 9,000 Victims Of Sexual Abuse In Germany’s Protestant Churches and Charities
A 2024 study revealed that more than 9,000 people have suffered sexual abuse within Germany’s Protestant churches and charities since 1946. The 871-page report, compiled by independent researchers, found that incidents of abuse were much higher than previously known, with 9,355 children and young people abused by an estimated 3,497 perpetrators, a third of whom were religious figures. Bishop Kirsten Fehrs, acting president of the Council of the Protestant Church of Germany, took responsibility for the abuse and pledged to implement measures to prevent future crimes, offering heartfelt apologies to the victims.
#9 Spain – Spanish Church Sexual Abuse Affected 200,000 Children
In 2023, an independent commission in Spain revealed that more than 200,000 children have suffered sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. The 700-page report, commissioned by Spain’s ombudsman, highlighted the devastating impact on victims and criticizes the Church for its silence and attempts to cover up the abuse. A survey of 800,000 people found that 0.6% of the adult population reported suffering abuse by clergy, with the number rising to 1.13% when including lay people in Church-run institutions.
#10 Switzerland – Swiss Catholic Church Inquiry Uncovered Nearly 1,000 Abuse Cases
In September 2023, an official inquiry into the Roman Catholic Church in Switzerland identified nearly 1,000 cases of sexual abuse since 1950, with most victims being male children. The report, compiled by researchers from the University of Zurich, found evidence of widespread cover-ups, including destroyed records and unreported cases. Over half of the abuse occurred during pastoral activities such as confession and religious education, while 30% took place in institutions like children’s homes and schools. The Church’s response to these cases often prioritized its reputation over victim welfare, with abusive clerics reassigned rather than prosecuted.
#11 Bolivia – 35 Catholic Clergy Members Investigated Over Sexual Abuse Claims
In June 2023, Bolivian prosecutors investigated 35 Catholic clergy members following accusations of sexual abuse by over a dozen victims. The probe began after the discovery of a Spanish priest’s diary, revealing his abuse of over 80 minors in Bolivia. The diary, found in 2023, also implicated senior clergy in covering up the crimes. While 17 victims were identified, the full extent of the diary remains unclear. Bolivian authorities sought to obtain the complete document and work with Spanish prosecutors.
#12 Ireland – Report Exposes Widespread Abuse By Priests In Baltimore Archdiocese
In 2023, a Maryland Attorney General’s report revealed that over 150 priests and associates from the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused more than 600 children, with the actual number likely much higher. The 463-page report highlighted a systemic cover-up and a failure by Church leadership to adequately investigate abuse complaints. Victims faced long-term trauma, including mental health issues. Archbishop William Lori apologized for the Church’s past failures.
#13 Ireland – Abuse Claims Against St. John Of God Order
In 2022, the Irish branch of the St. John of God order, which ran special schools in Ireland, received over 130 child sexual abuse allegations, including 34 new claims since a 2015 safeguarding review. The review had already identified 97 allegations, with 12 civil cases ongoing. The accusations involved 41 members of the order, including incidents in Africa and the UK. Despite these claims, no members were convicted or placed on the sex offenders register.
#14 Ireland – Child Sexual Abuse In The Catholic Church
Accusations of clerical sexual abuse in Ireland, once regarded as the world’s most Catholic country, began emerging in the 1980s, causing profound shock across the nation. It is estimated that nearly 15,000 children were victims of clerical sex abuse between 1970 and 1990. The 2009 Ryan Commission report revealed extensive abuse in Catholic-run institutions from the 1930s to the 1970s.
#15 Portugal – Over 4,800 Child Abuse Victims In Catholic Church
In 2023, a report by the Independent Commission for the Study of Child Sexual Abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church estimated that over 4,800 children were abused by priests and church members since 1950. More than 100 suspected abusers remain active in the church. The investigation, which included testimonies from 512 victims, revealed widespread abuse, with the majority of abusers being priests. Many victims were threatened with blackmail, leading to silence.
#16 Italy – Italian Church Report on Clergy Abuse Criticized
In 2022, the Italian Catholic Church released its first report on sexual abuse cases, covering 2020-2021. The report documented 89 victims and accused 68 people, primarily priests and lay workers. Victims were mostly aged 15-18, with 16 adults considered “vulnerable.” Critics, including victims’ groups, argue the report’s scope is limited and fails to include cases before 2020 or Vatican archives, deeming it inadequate. Survivors’ group Rete L’Abuso estimated around 1 million victims in Italy, calling for a comprehensive investigation similar to those in France and Germany.
#17 United Kingdom – Church of England Finds 383 New Abuse Cases
In 2022, the Church of England’s review of past abuse cases uncovered 383 new allegations involving clergy, Church officers, and volunteers, with 168 related to children and 149 to vulnerable adults. The report, prompted by criticism of a 2010 review, highlights systemic issues within the Church, including victim-blaming and inaction. Despite apologies from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, survivors remain critical, with some feeling betrayed by the process.
#18 Canada – Pope Francis Apologizes for Abuse at Canadian Residential Schools
During his 2022 visit to Canada, Pope Francis issued a heartfelt apology for sexual abuse at Catholic-run residential schools for Indigenous children, acknowledging the Church’s deep failure and the pain caused. At the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, he spoke of the “burden of failure” felt by the Church, reflecting on the scandal of abuse and the forced cultural assimilation of over 150,000 children. Survivors criticized the initial apology for lacking specific mention of sexual abuse, though the pope continued to address these concerns.
#19 New Zealand – Church Faces Alarming Abuse Findings
A 2022 investigation into the New Zealand Catholic Church revealed 1,680 reports of abuse against clergy, religious figures, and laypeople from 1950 to today. The findings, which were part of a Royal Commission inquiry, show that 14% of diocesan clergy were accused of abuse, with nearly half involving sexual harm. The majority of abuse occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. Cardinal John Dew described the figures as “horrifying,” expressing deep shame.
#20 Mexico – 175 Children Abused By Mexican Church
At least 175 children were sexually assaulted by priests belonging to an ultra-conservative Mexican branch of the Roman Catholic Church, according to an internal report in 2019. The founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Marcial Maciel, abused as many as 60 children, with a total of 33 priests or deacons acknowledged to have committed sexual assaults against minors since 1941, the document said. The findings of the report, written by a commission created in June by the director general of the group, Eduardo Robles-Gil– spans from the group’s founding in 1941 until 16 December 2019.
#21 France – French Catholic Church Abuse Inquiry: 216,000 Victims
In 2021, an inquiry into sexual abuse within the French Catholic Church revealed that 216,000 children, mostly boys, were abused by clergy since 1950, with a potential total of 330,000 victims including lay members. The report identified 2,900-3,200 abusers, primarily priests, and highlighted a “cruel indifference” from the Church towards victims. Many cases are too old to prosecute, but the inquiry urged the Church to take responsibility, offer compensation, and implement prevention measures.
#22 Poland – 369 Sexual Abuse Cases Reported By Polish Catholic Church
A report from the Polish Catholic Church revealed 369 cases of sexual abuse, reported between July 2018 and the end of 2020, involving incidents from 1958 to 2020. 39% of the allegations were confirmed, with investigations ongoing for over 50% of the remaining cases. The report followed the release of previous data, with 382 clergy accused of abusing 625 minors from 1990 to 2018.
#23 Australia – Child sexual abuse In Catholic Church
Australia’s Royal Commission said in February 2017 that most of the abuse took place in churches, with 7% of Catholic priests accused of abusing children in Australia between 1950 and 2010. It said allegations were almost never investigated. It found that 4,444 alleged incidents of child sexual abuse had been reported to Church authorities. In some dioceses, more than 15% of priests were perpetrators.
#24 Argentina – Two Catholic Priests Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Deaf Children
In 2019, an Argentine court found two priests and a lay worker guilty of the sexual abuse of 10 former students of a Catholic school for the deaf. The incident of abuse of male and female students at the Antonio Provolo Institute for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children in the western Argentine city of Luján de Cuyo between 2004 and 2016.
#25 Chile – Clergy Abuse Scandal
In 2018, nearly 80 Roman Catholic clergy members were accused of sexually abusing children in Chile since 2000, according to a report by US-based BishopAccountability.org. The group compiled the list using court and media records, noting it represented just a fraction of those accused. The database included prominent figures like Fernando Karadima, convicted by the Vatican but not Chile.
#26 Belgium – Belgium Church Abuse Scandal
A 2010 report by Peter Adriaenssens, Belgium’s leading expert on paedophilia, revealed 476 instances of child abuse by priests and bishops over the past 50 years. The harrowing testimonies, collected from hundreds of victims, documented abuse across nearly every diocese and church-run school in Belgium. The report highlighted the immense suffering, with several victims having committed suicide or attempted it. Adriaenssens compared the findings to Belgium’s notorious Dutroux case, noting the abuse was most prevalent in the 1960s but persists.
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