Church leaders struggle to protect kids from sex abuse, The Sacramento Bee, 1/19/10 ("Southern Baptists are not required to screen any church workers.")

Presbyterian:

Kudos! (An independent review for reports of clergy sex abuse. Outreach and help for abuse survivors. Honoring those who report abuse as “witnesses to truth.”)

Church commission says minister had sex with minor, 11/13/08

Church court to rule on sex abuse allegations, 4/23/08 (News report on Presbytery's consideration of allegations that minister abused 14-yr old in mid-1980s)

Woman accuses former youth pastor of sex abuse (Presbytery's finding of "sufficient evidence" allows for media reporting and commencement of church trial, but accused pastor is not required to step down pending church-trial.)

Episcopal:

Pennsylvania Episcopal bishop ousted in cover-up, 10/3/08

Episcopal bishop ousted over covering up abuse, EthicsDaily, 10/6/08

Episcopal Church convicts Pa. bishop of cover-up, 6/26/08 (Bishop held accountable for having covered up for his minister-brother's abuse of a teen girl in the 1970s.)

Pennsylvaia bishop who failed to report sex abuse is suspended, 10/31/07 (Allegedly, he failed to provide pastoral care to the 14-yr old girl, failed to inform the girl's parents, failed to report the other minister's abuse, and failed to investigate whether there might be other victims. By contrast, Southern Baptist leaders typicallty don't even do anything about reported clergy perpetrators, much less hold accountable those who keep quiet.)

Episcopal diocese releases timeline chronicling claims of sexual abuse, 9/8/07 (Example of action: (1) Hired independent investigatory firm; (2) Notified church members where priest had worked; (3) informed people of the allegations; (4) Reached out to try to find other possible victims...and did; (5) Offered assistance to victims; and (6) Made a public apology)

Episcopal priest suspended, 8/22/07 (The diocese received a complaint and immediately began an investigation. The priest was suspended from ministry pending investigation. The diocese's investigation revealed 3 more victims. The diocese informed NY police and the other dioceses in which the priest had worked.)

Retired priest investigated for sexual misconduct, 5/25/2007 (Denominational leaders investigated abuse allegations; they used an outside investigator; they notified people who had been in contact with the accused priest; denominational leaders apologized to the victims.)

Diocese reports new abuse claims, 6/27/2007 (Denominational leaders informed people affiliated with the church and school about the allegations; denominational leaders informed people that the claims "had substance"; denominational officials investigated the claims; denominational officials alerted authorities in two cities; denominational officials publicly asked anyone with information to contact them; it did all this even though the accused has never been charged with a crime.)

Lutheran:

A path to healing, 4/25/2007 (The victim only had to report to one place; the denomination had a review process; the abuse was acknowledged; denominational leaders informed people in other congregations.)

Catholic:

Priest was ousted at St. Mary's, 2/19/09 (letter deeming claim 'credible'... priest barred from public ministry...review board backed the woman and offered therapy)

Review finds retired Catholic bishop guilty of sex abuse, 11/3/08 (reporting of lay review board determinations)

Suspended priests often carry on quietly near former parishes, 10/20/08 ("Most...never faced criminal charges.... But they did face a wrenching end to their way of life.")

Sexual misconduct charge made against late Decatur priest, 9/8/08 (When a deceased priest was accused, the diocese reported it to a review board and it was determined to be a credible allegation. The diocese offered the victim counseling and even contacted the newspaper, consistent with "the diocese's policy of openly airing allegations of sexual abuse.")

Former Catholic high school principal suspended following abuse allegations, 7/29/08 (priest suspended pending investigation; information on places he worked is available; counseling is offered; victims assistance office is available)

While some move on, effects are 'never over', 7/13/08 ("The walk up those stairs is a heroic walk... The archdiocese helps pay for counseling.")

Diocese releases names of 'credibly accused' abusers, 7/11/08 (diocese's standard for "credibly accused")

Retired priest removed from ministry after 'credible' allegation, 3/18/08

Retired city priest removed from ministry following abuse allegation, 3/17/08 (priest removed from ministry after finding that allegation was "credible" and letter distributed in every parish where he worked)

Suspect priests not monitored, Arizona Daily Star, 7/30/2007 ("The diocesan standard for 'credible' is that the abuse not only could have happened but probably did happen. That's a lower standard than that of the criminal justice system's 'beyond a reasonable doubt.'")

Limits on sex abuse suits set for debate, 6/18/2007 (The diocese continued to provide counseling for victims.)

Should we put a time limit on justice?, 6/17/2007 ("The truth is that the Catholic Church does, in fact, have the records -- and therein lies their real concern. As Father Tom Doyle testified..., canon law requires that the church keep such records....")

African Methodist Episcopal Church:

Church meeting is city's largest convention of year, 7/3/08 (AME has "church-run investigative committees" to consider clergy abuse claims even when "criminal charges have never been filed.")