A Look at Abuse in Protestant Churches

Thursday June 14, 2007 9:01 PM

By The Associated Press

A look at reports of sex abuse of minors from three companies that together insure the majority of U.S. Protestant churches.

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Church Mutual Insurance Co.

- Total number of clients insured: 96,000

- Number of churches-worship centers insured: 95,000

- Number of other religious groups insured: 1,000

- Top five denominations insured: United Methodist - 10,000 churches; Southern Baptist - 9,600 churches; Assemblies of God, - 4,000 churches; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - 3,300 churches; Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - 2,600 churches.

- Reports on sex abuse of minors: Company has received an average of about 100 reports a year alleging child sex abuse over the past decade.

- Other sexual misconduct: Company has received an average of about 100 reports a year alleging other sexual misconduct over the past decade.

- Total amount in claims paid: Declined to release because company deems figure proprietary information.

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GuideOne Insurance Co.

- Total number of clients insured: 45,000

- Number of churches-worship centers insured: 43,495

- Number of other religious groups insured: 1,505

- Top five denominations insured: Baptist (all types) - 10,922 churches; Presbyterian- 2,812 churches; Lutheran- 2,665 churches; Methodist - 1,742 churches; Disciples of Christ/Christian Church of America - 1,391 churches.

- Reports on sex abuse of minors: Company has received an average of about 160 reports of child sex abuse a year for the past two decades.

- Other sexual misconduct: Company has received an average of about 40 reports of sexual misconduct each year for the past two decades.

- Total amount in claims paid: Over the last five years, GuideOne has averaged approximately $4 million per year in child sex abuse and sexual misconduct settlements, excluding attorney fees.

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Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co.

- Total number of clients insured: 30,000

- Number of churches-worship centers insured: 27,000

- Number of other religious groups insured: 3,000

- Top five denominations insured: Southern Baptists - 4,000 churches; Assemblies of God - 2,300 churches;

- Non-denominational (churches that haven't claimed an affiliation) - just under 2,300; United Methodist - under 2,000; Independent Baptists - under 2,000

- Reports on sex abuse of minors: Company has received an average of 73 reports of BOTH child sex abuse and other sexual misconduct each year for the past 15 years. The company did know how many of that total were child sex abuse cases and how many were other sexual misconduct because it doesn't organize its data that way.

- Total amount in claims paid: Total of approximately $7.8 million has been paid out in claims for sexual misconduct and child sex abuse over the past 15 years.

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Sources: Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co., GuideOne Insurance Co. and Church Mutual Insurance Co.

Does being a member of "The Clergy" make someone more likely to be a Pedophile? Do we need an 11th commandment? Note to God, they needed you to be a little more specific on some things.