Bits & Pieces

Catholic priests molesting children less often

NEW YORK–The nation’s Roman Catholic bishops and religious orders received 714 clergy sex abuse claims in 2006, the second consecutive year that the number of allegations has dropped, according to a new report on the church’s child protection reforms. The vast majority of claims date back decades.

Costs related to abuse cases also decreased–by about 15 percent over the last year-mainly due to a decline in what dioceses paid to settle molestation cases.

Dioceses and religious orders paid nearly $399 million in 2006 for settlements with victims, attorney fees and support for accusers and offenders. For 2005, that figure was $467 million–considered the highest ever for a single year.

The findings, set for release Wednesday, are part of an annual review that the bishops first commissioned in 2002 as they implemented reforms to better safeguard children at the height of the clergy sex abuse scandal.

The declining number of claims–there were 1,092 in 2004 and 783 the next year–could be taken as evidence that the church is gradually gaining control over the crisis.

But more work is needed to address the problem, a key church official said.

“The bishops have done a lot and have spent a lot of money in a lot of different areas, but it’s not all done, as you can tell by the number of victims still coming forward,” said Teresa Kettelkamp, executive director of the bishops’ Office of Child and Youth Protection.

Catholic leaders say abuse-related costs have exceeded $1.5 billion since 1950. More than 13,000 molestation claims have been filed against clergy since then.

Snoop Dogg loves jail

PASADENA, Calif.–Snoop Dogg was charged Tuesday with felony gun and drug counts, Los Angeles County prosecutors said.

The 35-year-old rap star was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Pasadena, prosecutors said in a statement.

Snoop Dogg faces charges of gun possession by a felon and sale or transportation of marijuana.

He was arrested Oct. 26 by Burbank police at Bob Hope Airport on suspicion of transportation of a controlled substance. Burbank police later discovered a gun at his home.

If convicted, he faces up to four years in state prison.

“These were changes we fully expected,” said Snoop Dogg’s attorney, Donald Etra. “They will be dealt with in court tomorrow. The matter will be resolved tomorrow.”

The rapper was convicted in 1990 of cocaine possession and charged with gun possession after a 1993 traffic stop. He pleaded guilty in exchange for three years’ probation and a promise to make public-service announcements against violence.

The rapper’s manager, Constance Schwartz, said there would be no comment Tuesday but a written statement would be issued Wednesday.

Girls Gone Wild creator…um…gone wild

PENSACOLA, Fla.–The founder of the Girls Gone Wild video empire was taken into custody by federal marshals early Tuesday to face a contempt of court citation after initially defying a federal judge.

Joe Francis was booked into the Bay County Jail, said Ruth Sasser, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office. “His attorneys continue to work toward a settlement,” Ronn Torossian, a Francis spokesman, said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.

Francis, 34, makes an estimated $29 million a year from videos of young women exposing their breasts and in other sexually provocative situations.

He appeared Tuesday afternoon before federal Magistrate Larry A. Bodiford, who ordered him held without bail. Torossian said Francis would likely be held until at least Thursday, when he is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak, the judge who issued the contempt citation.

He drew the contempt citation during negotiations in a civil lawsuit brought by seven women who were underage when they were filmed by his company on Panama City Beach during spring break in 2003.