New York City ? 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 today, 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.