Second abuse report released.

At least 1,092 new allegations of sexual abuse were leveled against Catholic clergy in 2004, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reports in the second annual report of the Office of Child and Youth Protection (OCYP). Additionally, $157.8 million was paid by dioceses in abuse settlements, bringing the total to at least $840 million since 1950, according to Religion News Service.

The report revealed that the accusations made in 2004 mimicked the predominant pattern of the 2002 study that included data from the previous 52 years. Most incidents occurred between 1965 and 1974, most victims were boys between 10 and 14 years old, and half of the priests accused had been previously accused of sex abuse.

Only 22 cases (or 2 percent) involved victims currently under the age of 18. Seventy-one percent of the alleged offenders were already defrocked, removed from ministry, or deceased, but at least 42 priests or deacons who were accused in 2004 "remain in active ministry pending a preliminary investigation."

The OCYP audit is based on reports from 181 of 195 U.S. dioceses (96 percent) and 71 percent of religious orders. Accusations against priests of religious orders accounted for 18 percent of the total.