Sweeping study finds 1,000 cases of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church since mid-20th century

A sweeping, year-long study of sex abuse by priests and others within the Roman Catholic Church in Switzerland published Tuesday has turned up more than 1,000 cases since the mid-20th century. The report, commissioned by the Swiss Conference of Bishops and led by two University of Zurich historians, offers a rare and deep look at sexual abuse and harassment that has confounded the Catholic Church across the globe in recent decades — upending the lives of many victims and their families, and tarnishing the image of the institution. The authors said in a statement that they identified 1,002 “situations of sexual abuse,” including accusations against 510 people accused.