The second chapter is a historical analysis of sexual abuse in the catholic church: explaining the distribution of abuse over time. Three important research questions have been studied in that chapter. First, reasons for variations in sexual abuse. Second, the commitment to celibacy. Third, the questions of sexuality and sexual identity.

Chapter three is a psychological analysis of sexual abuse by catholic priests: exploring the individual-level characteristics of abused and explanations for sexual abuse. In that chapter the authors studied the individual causes of deviant sexual behavior.

Chapter 4 focused on organizational response to incidents and reports of sexual abuse of minors. In that chapter the authors studied the development of diocesan response to sexual abuse by priests, the development of treatment for sex offenders, the sex abuse treatment for catholic priests, and finally an understanding the pace of institutional change.

Chapter 5 studied the problem of sexual victimization of minors: analyzing the onset, persistence, and desistance from abuse incidents by priests.

Chapter 6 pointed out a list of recommendations. Education is one of the most important component among the recommendations. The plan provides a general description of the kinds of ongoing formation needed to enhance the integration of priestly identity and the tasks of pastoral ministry; it also outlines formation at different stages of priesthood and discusses some of the practical possibilities formation.

Information seeking:

The report provided a lot of information on the causes and context of sexual abuse of minors by catholic priests in the United States, 1950-2010. The sexual abuse of minors by catholic priests has been for a long time hidden. Everybody knows the problem exists but no one has never decided to break the silence. In the 1990s, particularly in Boston, the scandals took the streets. The press has been the first to denounce the phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors by catholic priests. In response, the catholic churches under pressure finally took action. Millions of dollars has been allowed by the Catholic Church to damage the victims. Many priests have been fired by the clergy, and the Catholic Church in the United States decided to publish a few years ago the names of the priests involving in the sexual abuse of minors during the last decade.

Catholic Sex Abuse

Sexual abuse of minors by priests receives significant media attention in Canada, Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Belgium, France, and Germany, while cases have been reported throughout the world.

In response to the widening scandal, Pope John Paul II emphasized the spiritual nature of the offenses. He declared en 2001, that "a sin against the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue by a cleric with a minor under 18 years of age is to be considered a grave sin, or delictum gravius. With the approval of the Vatican, the hierarchy of the Church in the United States said that it instituted reforms to prevent future abuse including requiring background checks for Church employees and volunteers, while opposing extensions of the statutes of limitations in sex abuse cases.

John Jay Report

The 2004 John Jay Report commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) was based on surveys completed by the Roman dioceses in the United States.

The 2004 John Jay Report was based on a study of 10, 667 allegations against 4,392 priests accused of engaging in sexual abuse of a minor between 1950 and 2002.

The report stated there were approximately 10,667 reported victims (younger than 18 years) of clergy sexual abuse during this period:

- Around 81 percent of these victims were male.

- 22.6% were age 10 or younger; 51% were between the ages of 11 and 14, and 27% were between the ages to 15 to 17 years

- For approximately 20 percent of the allegations, the priest was deceased or inactive at the time of the receipt of the allegations and typically no investigation was conducted in these circumstances.

The 4,392 priests who were accused:

- 56 percent had one reported allegation against them; 27 percent had two or three allegations against them; 3 percent (149 priests) had 10 or more allegations against them.

- 50 percent were 35 years of age or younger at the time of the first instance of alleged abuse.

- Almost 70 percent were ordained before 1970.

- Fewer than 7 percent were reported to have themselves been victims of physical, sexual or emotional abuse as children.

Although 19 percent had alcohol or substance abuse problems, only 9 percent were reported to have been using drugs or alcohol during the instance of abuse.