ST. LOUIS -- Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States have removed at least 232 priests because of sexual misconduct with minors in the past two decades, according to a survey conducted by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

In a copyright story published Sunday, the newspaper said 66 dioceses, more than half of those that responded to the paper's inquiry, have policies that require notification of authorities "immediately" whenever there is an allegation of sexual abuse by anyone working at the diocese.

"We tell them their responsibility is to call the Division of Youth and Family Services immediately and to bring in law enforcement," said Marianna Thompson, communications director for the diocese of Paterson, N.J. "This is a crime. You have to go to the cops."

At least 80 percent of the dioceses that responded to the newspaper's survey said they depend on lay committees, and not the church alone, to investigate charges of sexual abuse.

Some also reported taking a proactive approach, such as the diocese in Providence, R.I., which employs a retired state police officer as a full-time investigator. In the St. Augustine, Fla., diocese, all employees are fingerprinted and subjected to background checks.

A small percentage

The reasons for removal of the 232 priests included sexual misconduct with both boys and girls, teen-agers and younger children. But the number removed is just a fraction of the current number of priests in the United States -- 30,655 in diocesan ministry and 15,386 in religious orders.

In general, the Catholic church has been more forthright than others in confronting problems of sexual abuse, said the Rev. Canice Connors, the former director of St. Luke's Institute in Maryland, a treatment center for priests with sexual disorders.

Connors said most of the instances of sexual abuse now coming to light are from years ago. Those older priests did not go through the seminary screening that is now typical, he said.