Maida believes 63 clerics hurt kids
116 sex-abuse victims known, cardinal saysFebruary 6, 2004
BY DAVID CRUMM AND JIM SCHAEFER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
As a somber Detroit Catholic Cardinal Adam Maida revealed Thursday that he believes 63 priests and deacons sexually abused at least 116 minors in metro Detroit since 1950, he warned that a national report on all abusers to be released in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27 will shock Catholics coast to coast.
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BY THE NUMBERS
Number of clergy named in credible allegations: 63
Number of victims known to the archdiocese: 116
Money paid in settlements and for counseling: $1,377,000
Source: Archdiocese of Detroit
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Like many bishops, Maida is trying to soften the blow of the report by explaining the extent of the local scandal directly to his followers.
The full scope of the problem had never been revealed to the 1.5 million Catholics in the six-county Archdiocese of Detroit. Most news reports have focused on the 21 priests Maida has removed from ministry since early 2002.
On Thursday, Maida said he is mailing an eight-page tabloid containing his explanation of the crisis to 300,000 Catholic households in metro Detroit.
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