Draft: Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse

USCCB ^ | 6-14-02 | USCCB

[Salvation]

Draft:
Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies
Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors
by Clergy or Other Church Personnel

Preamble

On DATE, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." The charter addresses the Church's commitment to deal appropriately and effectively with cases of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and other Church personnel. The Bishops of the United States have promised to reach out to those who have been sexually abused as minors by anyone serving the Church in ministry, employment, or a volunteer position, whether the abuse was recent or many years ago. They stated that they would be as open as possible with the people in parishes and communities about instances of sexual abuse of minors, with respect always for the privacy of the individuals involved. They have committed themselves to care for the spiritual and emotional well-being of those who have been abused and of their families.

In addition, the Bishops will work with parents, civil authorities, educators and other organizations in the community to make and maintain the safest environment for minors. In the same way, the Bishops have said they will evaluate the background of all Church personnel, employees and volunteers, who have responsibility for the care and supervision of children and young people.

Therefore, in order to assure that each diocese/eparchy in the United States of America will have in place mechanisms to respond promptly to all allegations of sexual abuse of minors, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops decrees these norms for diocesan/eparchial policies dealing with allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy or other Church personnel.

Norms

1. These norms constitute particular law for all the dioceses/eparchies of the United States of America.
   
   
2. Each diocese/eparchy is to have a written policy on the sexual abuse of minors by clergy or other Church personnel. A copy of this policy is to be on file in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops within three months of the effective date of these Norms. Copies of any eventual revisions of the written diocesan/eparchial policy are also to be filed with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops within three months of the modifications.
   
   
3. Each diocese/eparchy is to designate a competent assistance coordinator to aid in the immediate pastoral care of persons who claim to have been abused by clergy or other Church personnel.
   
   
4. Each diocese/eparchy is to have a review board whose functions include:
   
   
   1. to assess allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and other Church personnel, and to advise the diocesan/eparchial bishop on whether or not the allegations appear to be credible;
      
      
   2. to review the diocesan/eparchial policy and procedures for dealing with these allegations at least every two years and, if appropriate, to recommend modifications in it; and
      
      
   3. to advise the diocesan/eparchial bishop on the possible fitness for ministry of clergy or other Church personnel who have offended, always placing the safety of children and young people in the highest priority.
   
   
5. The review board is established by the diocesan/eparchial bishop and is to be composed of at least five persons of outstanding integrity and good judgment. The majority of the review board are to be lay persons who are not in the employ of the diocese/eparchy, but at least one member should be a priest and at least one member should have particular expertise in child sexual abuse. The members are to be appointed for a term of five years, which can be renewed.
   
   
6. When a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy or other Church personnel is made, the ordinary/hierarch is to relieve the alleged offender promptly of any ecclesiastical office, ministry, or other function while the allegation is being investigated. The accused is to be encouraged to retain the assistance of civil and canonical counsel.
   
   
7. If the allegation of sexual abuse of a minor involves a cleric, the ordinary/hierarch is to refer him for appropriate medical evaluation and intervention, if possible.
   
   
8. When the allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric is admitted or otherwise determined, the following will pertain:
   
   
   1. Regarding acts of sexual abuse of a minor committed subsequent to this date: there will be a request for the cleric's laicization, even without his consent if necessary, if he commits even a single act.
      
      
   2. Regarding acts of sexual abuse of a minor committed prior to this date:
      
      
      1. If the cleric is a pedophile, or if he has committed more than one act of sexual abuse of a minor, there will be a request for the cleric's laicization, even without his consent if necessary.
         
         
      2. In other cases, the diocesan bishop will proceed after receiving the advice of the review board, which will offer to hear both the cleric and victim, always placing the safety of children and young people in the highest priority.
   
   
9. The diocese/eparchy will report any allegation (unless canonically privileged) of sexual abuse of a person who is currently a minor to the proper authorities and will cooperate in their investigation. It will cooperate with proper authorities about reporting when the person alleged to have been abused is no longer a minor. In every instance, it will advise and support a person's right to make a report to proper authorities.
   
   
10. When a cleric is proposed to another diocese/eparchy for assignment, transfer, or residence, even if the cleric will function only within an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life (or in the Eastern Churches, as a monk or other religious, in a society of common life according to the manner of religious, in a secular institute, or in another form of consecrated life or society of apostolic life), before the proposal is implemented, if there is anything in his background which would indicate that he would be a danger to children or young people, an accurate and complete description of the cleric's record is to be forwarded by his ordinary/hierarch to the local ordinary/hierarch of his new residence.
    
    
11. Care is always to be taken to protect the rights of all parties involved, particularly those of the person claiming to have been abused and the person against whom the charge has been made.

June 04, 2002 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

[Salvation]

FYI and discussion

[Salvation]

Norms interface with Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

All of this being disccused abd/or decided upon at the conference -- maybe today.

Please notify me via Freepmail if you would like to be added to or removed from the Alleluia Ping list.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

We'll have to wait for the final version as it was, according to the AP, being rewritten almost to the minute it was announced.

[Salvation]

BTTT for tomorrow morning.

Good night.

[maryz]

More mush from the wimps?