THE number of new child sex abuse allegations against Roman Catholic clergy in the US and Church payouts for clerical sex abuse cases fell sharply last year, a report commissioned by US bishops said Tuesday.

An American group representing survivors of clerical abuse have condemned Pope Benedict XVI's statement following a meeting with Irish bishops.

THE horrific scale of the abuse carried out against children made headlines around the world.

Cardinal Roger Mahony, leader of America’s largest Roman Catholic archdiocese, apologised to the hundreds of people who will get a share of a €488m settlement over allegations of clergy sex abuse.

VICTIMS of clerical sex abuse in the United States have claimed that a€478 million settlement by the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles will not make the pain end for victims.

A Catholic diocese in the US has agreed to pay at least $48m (€37m) to people molested by priests, a federal mediator announced.

America’s largest Roman Catholic archdiocese is to pay out $60m to settle 45 sex abuse cases.

THE resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law brought relief, prayers and some sadness from Catholics who watched the priest sex abuse scandal mushroom over the past year.

Some advocates for sex abuse victims have said Pope John Paul II’s first public comments in Canada on priests who molest children sent the wrong message: that the Roman Catholic Church cares more about clergy than those who were abused.

Tom Cohen, Toronto

Sexual abuse scandals rocking the Roman Catholic church cause ‘‘a deep sense of sadness and shame’’, Pope John Paul said today.