Underreporting is so common in the church because in "33 states across the US, clergy’s are EXEMPTED from reporting alleged child abuse to police or child welfare officials if the church deems the information privileged, an Associated Press review has found". This is incredibly fucked because it gives them the chance to cover up many cases and this goes to show how intertwined the government and church is. Both are very corrupt.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2022/09/28/33-states-exempt-clergy-from-reporting-abuse#:~:text=(AP)%20%2D%2D%20Thirty%2Dthree,Associated%20Press%20review%20has%20found%20%2D%2D%20Thirty%2Dthree,Associated%20Press%20review%20has%20found).

The 33 states where this loophole is still present are:

  1. Ak
  2. WA
  3. ID
  4. MT
  5. ND
  6. MN
  7. OR
  8. UT
  9. WY
  10. CA
  11. NV
  12. CO
  13. AZ
  14. NM
  15. LA
  16. AR
  17. MO
  18. IL
  19. KY
  20. WI
  21. OH
  22. MI
  23. SC
  24. AL
  25. GA
  26. FL
  27. MD
  28. DE
  29. VT
  30. MA
  31. VA
  32. PA
  33. ME

This means there are only 17 states in the US where priests are mandated reporters even though there is and always was a sexual abuse crisis against boys in the Catholic Church.

Everyone should take a look at this link there's an interactive map of the US where you can see the number of reporting bills passed (in any of the 33 states) that DO NOT MAKE PRIESTS MANDATED REPORTERS.

https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/09/28/clergy-loophole-child-sex-abuse

This issue continues to be unaddressed even though child sexual abuse destroy's lives (there is high link between suicide and sexual abuse) and is rampant in the church. This is blatant corruption and a clear lack of policy.

Priest raping boys is heavily underreported.“an investigation finds the Catholic Church in Illinois did the same as in other places. The church failed to report hundreds of clergy members who were accused of sexual abuse. The state attorney general identified almost 2,000 children who were harmed over seven decades.” Keep in mind this is only 1 church in 1 state.

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/24/1177847312/state-probe-finds-catholic-church-in-illinois-vastly-underreported-clergy-sex-ab#:~:text=Some%20other%20news%20now%20%2D%20an,were%20harmed%20over%20seven%20decades

In IL, 6,000 cases and one DMV bill was proposed to address the loophole to reporting, but after skepticism from the church it was shot down.

“The report lists more than 150 clergy who were credibly accused of abusing over 600 victims dating back several decades. It paints a damning picture of the archdiocese. Rob Jenner, a Baltimore attorney representing abuse victims, said the bankruptcy decision deals them yet another blow.” Again this is one church in one state (Baltimore).

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/30/1202822738/baltimore-archdiocese-files-for-bankruptcy#:~:text=The%20report%20lists%20more%20than,deals%20them%20yet%20another%20blow

In MD, 600 victims and 2 bills were proposed but protested by Church Campaigners who were later exposed for child abuse, yet both bills died in committee.