The number of sex abuse cases filed against the Boy Scouts of America now number more than 82,000, far exceeding the volume of cases against the Catholic Church in own sex abuse scandal, the New York Times reports.
With accusers ranging in age from 8 to 93, the cases outline decades of abuse that took place at BSA meetings and events across the country. Plaintiffs come from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as incidents of abuse that happened at US military bases in Germany and Japan.
The BSA has filed for bankruptcy in hopes of being able to settle the claims and reorganize. According to filings with the bankruptcy court, the BSA has more than $1 billion in assets. The bankruptcy judge set Monday as the deadline for alleged victims to file claims.
Since its founding in 1910, more than 130 million Americans have gone through scouting programs, including 2.2 million currently enrolled. In 2017, in an effort to maintain relevance, the BSA voted to allow girls to join.
The BSA, a Congressionally-chartered organization, has kept files on scouting leaders it labeled as “degenerates” since at least 1935. In 2015, the Scouts lifted their ban on gay scout leaders.