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Child
Sexual Abuse Crisis in the Catholic Church
Draft
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
Catholic Bishops' Proposed Sexual Abuse Policy summarized
by Prevent Child Abuse America
Preamble
- Our beloved Church is experiencing a crisis without
precedent in our times ... The damage caused by sexual
abuse is devastating and long-lasting. We are profoundly
sorry by what we have done or by what we have failed to
do."
- We make our own the words of our Holy Father that sexual
abuse of young people is "by every standard wrong and
rightly considered a crime by society; it is also an appalling
sin in the eyes of God" (Pope John Paul II, Address to
the Cardinals of the U.S. and Conference Officers, April
23, 2002)
- With a firm intention to resolve this crisis, the Bishops
are committed to repair the breach with those who have
suffered sexual abuse, to provide safety and protection
for children and young people in its church ministries
and institutions, and heal the trauma that victim/survivors
and their families are suffering.
The
dioceses and national conference will adopt and implement
policies based upon the following:
To
Promote Healing and Reconciliation with Victims of Sexual
Abuse of Minors
- (Article 1): Dioceses will reach out to victim/survivors
and their families. Each diocese will reach out to all
victims of sexual abuse by anyone acting in the name of
the Church, whether the abuse was recent or in the past.
Outreach will include provision of counseling, support
groups and other services chosen by the victim.
- (Article 2): Dioceses will have in place procedures
to respond promptly to any allegation of sexual abuse.
Dioceses will have a review board, the majority of whom
will be people not employed by the diocese. The board
will assess allegations, regularly review diocesan policies
and procedures for dealing with sexual abuse of minors
and advise the bishop on the offender's fitness for ministry.
- (Article 3): Dioceses will not enter into confidentiality
agreements except for grave and substantial reasons brought
forward by the victim.
To
Guarantee an Effective Response to allegations of Sexual
Abuse of Minors
- (Article 4): Dioceses will report any accusation of
sexual abuse of minors to the proper authorities and cooperate
in their investigation. Dioceses will also cooperate with
proper authorities about reporting when the person is
no longer a minor.
- (Article 5): During the investigation of any complaint
of sexual abuse, the alleged offender will be removed
from his ministerial duties. When an allegation of sexual
abuse is confirmed there will be a request for laicization
even without the consent of the cleric.
- (Article 6): The standards of behavior of Clergy and
other church personal who have contact with children will
be clear and well publicized.
To
Assure the Accountability of Our Procedures
- (Article 8): An Office for Child and Youth Protection
will be established at the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops' national office. This office will assist individual
dioceses in the implementation of safe environment programs
and the adherence to related policies.
- (Article 9): A review board, including parents, will
be established to monitor and assist the work of the Office
for Child and Youth Protection.
- (Article 11): A commission will be established to research
how the U.S. Catholic Church has responded to the problem
of sexual abuse.
- (Article 13): Diocese will establish "safe environment"
programs. As part of this, they will partner with parents,
civil authorities, educators and community organizations
to provide education and training.
- (Article 14): Diocese will evaluate the background of
all diocesan and parish personnel who have contact with
children and young people, utilizing law enforcement and
other agencies. They will also use adequate screening
and evaluative techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates
for ordination.
- (Article 15): When a cleric is proposed for a new assignment
or transfer, complete description of the cleric's record
will be shared and reviewed before an assignment or transfer
can be made.
- (Article 17): The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
will partner with other churches, institutions of learning
and other organizations in conducting a major research
study the area of sexual abuse.
Conclusion
- "We must increase our vigilance to prevent those
few who might use the priesthood for their own immoral
and criminal purposes from doing so. At the same time,
we know that the sexual abuse of young people is not
a problem inherent in the priesthood nor are priests
the only ones guilty of it… We deeply regret that any
of our decisions have obscured the good work of our
priests for which their people hold them in such respect."
- "We pledge… that we will work to our utmost for the
protection of children and youth."
- "We pledge that we will devote to this goal the resources
and personnel necessary to accomplish it."
- "We pledge that we will do our best to ordain to
the priesthood and put into positions of trust only
those who share this commitment to protecting children
and youth."
- "We pledge that we will work toward healing and reconciliation
for those sexually abused by clerics."
Appendix
For
any cleric who has been treated for sexual abuse of a minor
and who has not been diagnosed as a pedophile, has not committed
more than one act of sexual abuse of a minor, and who is
determined suitable for public ministry, the following factors
will be taken into consideration:
- Is he cooperating in aftercare.
- Has he fulfilled any criminal penalty required of
him and is he free of civil jeopardy.
- Is supervision for him available and practical?
- Is he being regularly monitored and evaluated.
- Is he willing to accept public disclosure of his
condition.
- What is the attitude of the community?
Following
the same conditions outlined above, if a cleric is found
not suitable for public ministry, the above factors must
be taken into account, and additional consideration must
be given to whether:
- He will celebrate Mass only privately.
- He will not wear clerical dress.
- He will not be listed as a priest of the diocese.
- He will agree to restricted living arrangements.
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