Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

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Preamble
The Church in the United States is experiencing a crisis without precedent in our
times. The sexual abuse of children and young people by some priests and
bishops, and the ways in which we bishops addressed these crimes and sins,
have caused enormous pain, anger, and confusion. Innocent victims and their
families have suffered terribly. In the past, secrecy has created an atmosphere
that has inhibited the healing process and, in some cases, enabled sexually
abusive behavior to be repeated. As bishops, we acknowledge our mistakes and
our role in that suffering, and we apologize and take responsibility for too often
failing victims and our people in the past. We also take responsibility for dealing
with this problem strongly, consistently, and effectively in the future. From the
depths of our hearts, we bishops express great sorrow and profound regret for
what the Catholic people are enduring.
We, who have been given the responsibility of shepherding God's people, will,
with God's help and in full collaboration with our people, continue to work to
restore the bonds of trust that unite us. Words alone cannot accomplish this goal.
It will begin with the actions we take here in our General Assembly and at home
in our dioceses/eparchies.
The damage caused by sexual abuse of minors is devastating and long-lasting.
We reach out to those who suffer, but especially to the victims of sexual abuse
and their families. We apologize to them for the grave harm that has been
inflicted upon them, and we offer them our help for the future. In the light of so
much suffering, healing and reconciliation are beyond human capacity alone.
Only God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness can lead us forward, trusting Christ's
promise: "for God all things are possible" (Mt 19:26).
The loss of trust becomes even more tragic when its consequence is a loss of
the faith that we have a sacred duty to foster. 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" (Address to the Cardinals of the United States and Conference Officers,
April 23, 2002).
The Conference of Bishops has been addressing the evil of sexual abuse of
minors by a priest and, at its June 1992 meeting, established five principles to be
followed (cf. Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, National Conference of
Catholic Bishops, Restoring Trust, November 1993). We also need to recognize
that many dioceses and eparchies did implement in a responsible and timely
fashion policies and procedures that have safeguarded children and young
people. Many bishops did take appropriate steps to address clergy who were
guilty of sexual misconduct.
Let there now be no doubt or confusion on anyone's part: For us, your bishops,
our obligation to protect children and young people and to prevent sexual abuse
flows from the mission and example given to us by Jesus Christ himself, in
whose name we serve.
Jesus showed constant care for the vulnerable. He inaugurated his ministry with
these words of the Prophet Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he has anointed me
To bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To let the oppressed go free,
And to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. (Lk 4:18)
In Matthew 25, the Lord made this part of his commission to his apostles and
disciples when he told them that whenever they showed mercy and compassion
to the least ones, they showed it to him.
Jesus extended this care in a tender and urgent way to children, rebuking his
disciples for keeping them away from him: "Let the children come to me" (Mt
19:14). And he uttered the grave warning about anyone who would lead the little
ones astray, saying that it would be better for such a person "to have a great
millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Mt
18:6).
We hear these words of the Lord as prophetic for this moment. With a firm
determination to resolve this crisis, we bishops commit ourselves to a pastoral
outreach to repair the breach with those who have suffered sexual abuse and
with all the people of the Church. We renew our determination to provide safety
and protection for children and young people in our church ministries and
institutions. We pledge ourselves to act in a way that manifests our accountability
to God, to his people, and to one another in this grave matter. We commit
ourselves to do all we can to heal the trauma that victims/survivors and their
families are suffering and the wound that the whole Church is experiencing. We
acknowledge our need to be in dialogue with all Catholics, especially victims and
parents, around this issue. By these actions, we want to demonstrate to the wider
community that we comprehend the gravity of the sexual abuse of minors.
To fulfill these goals, our dioceses/eparchies and our national conference, in a
spirit of repentance and renewal, will adopt and implement policies based upon
the following.
To Promote Healing and Reconciliation with Victims/Survivors
of Sexual Abuse of Minors
ARTICLE 1. Dioceses/eparchies will reach out to victims/survivors and their
families and demonstrate a sincere commitment to their spiritual and emotional
well-being. The first obligation of the Church with regard to the victims is for
healing and reconciliation. Where such outreach is not already in place and
operative, each diocese/eparchy is to develop an outreach to every person who
has been the victim of sexual abuse* as a minor by anyone acting in the name of
the Church, whether the abuse was recent or occurred many years in the past.
This outreach will include provision of counseling, spiritual assistance, support
groups, and other social services agreed upon by the victim and the
diocese/eparchy. In cooperation with social service agencies and other churches,
support groups for victims/survivors and others affected by abuse should be
fostered and encouraged in every diocese/eparchy and in local parish
communities.
Through pastoral outreach to victims and their families, the diocesan/eparchial
bishop or his representative will offer to meet with them, to listen with patience
and compassion to their experiences and concerns, and to share the "profound
sense of solidarity and concern" expressed by our Holy Father in his Address to
the Cardinals of the United States and Conference Officers. This pastoral
outreach by the bishop or his delegate will also be directed to faith communities
in which the sexual abuse occurred.
ARTICLE 2. Dioceses/eparchies will have mechanisms in place to respond
promptly to any allegation where there is reason to believe that sexual abuse of a
minor has occurred. Dioceses/eparchies will have a competent assistance
coordinator to aid in the immediate pastoral care of persons who claim to have
been sexually abused as minors by clergy or other church personnel.
Dioceses/eparchies will also have a review board, the majority of whose
members will be lay persons not in the employ of the diocese/eparchy. This
board will assist the diocesan/eparchial bishop in assessing allegations and
fitness for ministry, and will regularly review diocesan/eparchial policies and
procedures for dealing with sexual abuse of minors. Also, the board can act both
retrospectively and prospectively on these matters and give advice on all aspects
of responses required in connection with these cases. The procedures for those
making a complaint will be readily available in printed form and will be the subject
of periodic public announcements.
ARTICLE 3. Dioceses/eparchies will not enter into confidentiality agreements
except for grave and substantial reasons brought forward by the victim/survivor
and noted in the text of the agreement.
To Guarantee an Effective Response to Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors
ARTICLE 4. Dioceses/eparchies will report an allegation of sexual abuse of a
person who is a minor to the public authorities. They will cooperate in their
investigation in accord with the law of the jurisdiction in question.
Dioceses/eparchies will cooperate with public authorities about reporting in cases
when the person is no longer a minor.
In every instance, dioceses/eparchies will advise victims of their right to make a
report to public authorities and will support this right.
ARTICLE 5. We repeat the words of our Holy Father in his Address to the
Cardinals of the United States and Conference Officers: "There is no place in the
priesthood or religious life for those who would harm the young."
When the preliminary investigation of a complaint (cc. 1717-1719) against a
priest or deacon so indicates, the diocesan/eparchial bishop will relieve the
alleged offender promptly of his ministerial duties (cf. c. 1722). The alleged
offender will be referred for appropriate medical and psychological evaluation, so
long as this does not interfere with the investigation by civil authorities. When the
accusation has proved to be unfounded, every step possible will be taken to
restore the good name of the priest or deacon.
Where sexual abuse by a priest or a deacon is admitted or is established after an
appropriate investigation in accord with canon law, the following will pertain:
Diocesan/eparchial policy will provide that for even a single act of sexual abuse
(see Article 1, note *) of a minor—past, present, or future—the offending priest or
deacon will be permanently removed from ministry. In keeping with the stated
purpose of this Charter, an offending priest or deacon will be offered professional
assistance for his own healing and well-being, as well as for the purpose of
prevention.
In every case, the processes provided for in canon law must be observed, and
the various provisions of canon law must be considered (cf. Canonical Delicts
Involving Sexual Misconduct and Dismissal from the Clerical State, 1995; cf.
Letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, May 18, 2001). These
provisions may include a request by the priest or deacon for dispensation from
the obligation of holy orders and the loss of the clerical state, or a request by the
bishop for dismissal from the clerical state even without the consent of the priest
or deacon. For the sake of due process, the accused is to be encouraged to
retain the assistance of civil and canonical counsel. When necessary, the
diocese/eparchy will supply canonical counsel to a priest or deacon.
If the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state has not been applied (e.g., for
reasons of advanced age or infirmity), the offender is to lead a life of prayer and
penance. He will not be permitted to celebrate Mass publicly, to wear clerical
garb, or to present himself publicly as a priest.
ARTICLE 6. While the priestly commitment to the virtue of chastity and the gift of
celibacy is well known, there will be clear and well-publicized diocesan/eparchial
standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy and for
any other church personnel in positions of trust who have regular contact with
children and young people.
ARTICLE 7. Each diocese/eparchy will develop a communications policy that
reflects a commitment to transparency and openness. Within the confines of
respect for the privacy and the reputation of the individuals involved,
dioceses/eparchies will deal as openly as possible with members of the
community. This is especially so with regard to assisting and supporting parish
communities directly affected by ministerial misconduct involving minors.
To Ensure the Accountability of Our Procedures
ARTICLE 8. To assist in the consistent application of these principles and to
provide a vehicle of accountability and assistance to dioceses/eparchies in this
matter, we authorize the establishment of an Office for Child and Youth
Protection at our national headquarters. The tasks of this Office will include (1)
assisting individual dioceses/eparchies in the implementation of "safe
environment" programs (see Article 12 below), (2) assisting provinces and
regions in the development of appropriate mechanisms to audit adherence to
policies, and (3) producing an annual public report on the progress made in
implementing the standards in this Charter. This public report shall include the
names of those dioceses/eparchies which, in the judgment of this Office, are not
in compliance with the provisions and expectations of this Charter. This Office
will have staffing sufficient to fulfill its basic purpose. Staff will consist of persons
who are expert in the protection of minors; they will be appointed by the General
Secretary of the Conference.
ARTICLE 9. The work of the Office for Child and Youth Protection will be
assisted and monitored by a Review Board, including parents, appointed by the
Conference President and reporting directly to him. The Board will approve the
annual report of the implementation of this Charter in each of our
dioceses/eparchies, as well as any recommendations that emerge from this
review, before the report is submitted to the President of the Conference and
published. To understand the problem more fully and to enhance the
effectiveness of our future response, the National Review Board will commission
a comprehensive study of the causes and context of the current crisis. The Board
will also commission a descriptive study, with the full cooperation of our
dioceses/eparchies, of the nature and scope of the problem within the Catholic
Church in the United States, including such data as statistics on perpetrators and
victims.
ARTICLE 10. The membership of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse will
be reconstituted to include representation from all the episcopal regions of the
country.
ARTICLE 11. The President of the Conference will inform the Holy See of this
Charter to indicate the manner in which we, the Catholic bishops, together with
the entire Church in the United States, intend to address this present crisis.
To Protect the Faithful in the Future
ARTICLE 12. Dioceses/eparchies will establish "safe environment" programs.
They will cooperate with parents, civil authorities, educators, and community
organizations to provide education and training for children, youth, parents,
ministers, educators, and others about ways to make and maintain a safe
environment for children. Dioceses/eparchies will make clear to clergy and all
members of the community the standards of conduct for clergy and other
persons in positions of trust with regard to sexual abuse.
ARTICLE 13. Dioceses/eparchies will evaluate the background of all
diocesan/eparchial and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors.
Specifically, they will utilize the resources of law enforcement and other
community agencies. In addition, they will employ adequate screening and
evaluative techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates for ordination (cf.
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Program of Priestly Formation, 1993,
no. 513).
ARTICLE 14. When a cleric is proposed for a new assignment, transfer,
residence in another diocese/eparchy or diocese/eparchy in a country other than
the United States, or residence in the local community of a religious institute, the
sending bishop or major superior will forward and the receiving bishop or major
superior will review—before assignment—an accurate and complete description
of the cleric's record, including whether there is anything in his background or
service that would raise questions about his fitness for ministry (cf. National
Conference of Catholic Bishops and Conference of Major Superiors of Men,
Proposed Guidelines on the Transfer or Assignment of Clergy and Religious,
1993).
ARTICLE 15. The Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse and the Officers of the
Conference of Major Superiors of Men will meet to determine how this Charter
will be conveyed and established in the communities of religious men in the
United States. Diocesan/eparchial bishops and major superiors of clerical
institutes or their delegates will meet periodically to coordinate their roles
concerning the issue of allegations made against a cleric member of a religious
institute ministering in a diocese/eparchy.
ARTICLE 16. Given the extent of the problem of the sexual abuse of minors in
our society, we are willing to cooperate with other churches and ecclesial
communities, other religious bodies, institutions of learning, and other interested
organizations in conducting research in this area.
ARTICLE 17. We pledge our complete cooperation with the Apostolic Visitation
of our diocesan/eparchial seminaries and religious houses of formation
recommended in the Interdicasterial Meeting with the Cardinals of the United
States and the Conference Officers in April 2002. Unlike the previous visitation,
these new visits will focus on the question of human formation for celibate
chastity based on the criteria found in Pastores Dabo Vobis (1992). We look
forward to this opportunity to strengthen our priestly formation programs so that
they may provide God's people with mature and holy priests. Dioceses/eparchies
will develop systematic ongoing formation programs in keeping with the recent
Conference document Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (2001) so
as to assist priests in their living out of their vocation.
Conclusion
In the midst of this terrible crisis of sexual abuse of young people by priests and
bishops and how it has been dealt with by bishops, many other issues have been
raised. In this Charter we focus specifically on the painful issue at hand.
However, in this matter, we do wish to affirm our concern especially with regard
to issues related to effective consultation of the laity and the participation of
God's people in decision making that affects their well-being.
We must increase our vigilance to prevent those few who might exploit 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. The vast
majority of our priests are faithful in their ministry and happy in their vocation.
Their people are enormously appreciative of the ministry provided by their
priests. In the midst of trial, this remains a cause for rejoicing. 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.
It is within this context of the essential soundness of the priesthood and of the
deep faith of our brothers and sisters in the Church that we know that we can
meet and resolve this crisis for now and the future.
An essential means of dealing with the crisis is prayer for healing and
reconciliation, and acts of reparation for the grave offense to God and the deep
wound inflicted upon his holy people. Closely connected to prayer and acts of
reparation is the call to holiness of life and the care of the diocesan/eparchial
bishop to ensure that he and his priests avail themselves of the proven ways of
avoiding sin and growing in holiness of life.
By what we have begun here today and by what we have stated and agreed to,
We pledge most solemnly to one another and to you, God's people, 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.
We make these pledges with a humbling sense of our own limitations, relying on
the help of God and the support of his faithful priests and people to work with us
to fulfill them.
Above all we believe, in the words of St. Paul as cited by Pope John Paul II in
April 2002, that "where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more" (Rm 5:20).
This is faith's message. With this faith, we are confident that we will not be
conquered by evil but overcome evil with good (cf. Rm 12:21).
This Charter is published for the dioceses/eparchies of the United States, and we
bishops commit ourselves to its immediate implementation. It is to be reviewed in
two years by the Conference of Bishops with the advice of the National Review
Board created in Article 9 to ensure its effectiveness in resolving the problems of
sexual abuse of minors by priests.
* Cf. c. 1395, §2. Notice that a sexual offense violative of §2 need not be a
complete act of intercourse, nor should the term necessarily be equated with the
definitions of sexual abuse or other crimes in civil law. "Sexual abuse [includes]
contacts or interactions between a child and an adult when the child is being
used as an object of sexual gratification for the adult. A child is abused whether
or not this activity involves explicit force, whether or not it involves genital or
physical contact, whether or not it is initiated by the child, and whether or not
there is discernible harmful outcome" (Canadian Conference of Bishops, From
Pain to Hope, 1992, p. 20). If there is any doubt about whether a specific act
fulfills this definition, the writings of recognized moral theologians should be
consulted and, if necessary, the opinion of a recognized expert be obtained
(Canonical Delicts Involving Sexual Misconduct and Dismissal from the Clerical
State, 1995, p. 6). We also note that diocesan/eparchial policies must be in
accord with the civil law.
The document Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was
developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved by the full body of
U.S. Catholic bishops at its June 2002 General Meeting and has been authorized
for publication by the undersigned.
Msgr. William P. Fay
General Secretary, USCCB
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June 27, 2002 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops