Annual Report - usccb.org

1 M AY 2017 Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young PeopleS E C R E TA R I AT OF CHILD AND YOUTH PROTECTIONNATIONAL REVIEW BOARDUNITED states conference OF catholic BISHOPS2 016 Annual ReportFINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS2016 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People USCCB2016 Annual ReportFINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONSM AY 2017 Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young PeopleUnited states conference of catholic BishopsWashington, DCSECRETARIAT OF CHILD AND YOUTH PROTECTIONNATIONAL REVIEW BOARDUNITED states conference OF catholic BISHOPSThe 2016 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was prepared by the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection for the National Review Board and the united states conference of catholic bishops ( usccb ).

2 It was authorized by the usccb President, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo. It has been directed for publication by the J. Brian Bransfield General Secretary, USCCBThe findings and recommendations in this 2016 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People are based on the information provided by the dioceses and Printing, May 2017 Copyright 2017, united states conference of catholic bishops , Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright on back cover copyright 2004, 2006, 2014, united states conference of catholic bishops , Washington, DC.

3 All rights by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo ..vPresident, united states conference of catholic BishopsLetter from Francesco C. Cesareo, PhD ..viChair, National Review BoardLetter from Deacon Bernie Nojadera ..viiiExecutive Director, Secretariat of Child and Youth ProtectionLetter from James I. Marasco ..ixDirector, StoneBridge Business PartnersLetter from Fr. Thomas P. Gaunt, SJ ..xExecutive Director, Center for Applied Research in the ApostolateSECTION IChapter 1 Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection 2016 Progress Report .

4 3 Chapter 2 StoneBridge Business Partners 2016 Audit Report ..9 SECTION IIChapter 3 2016 CARA Survey of Allegations and Costs: A Summary Report ..37 APPENDICESA ppendix A ..552011 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young PeopleAppendix B ..63 CARA Questionnaire for Diocese and EparchiesAppendix Questionnaire for Religious InstitutesPromise to Protect v Pledge to HealOffice of the President3211 FOURTH STREET NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20017-1194 202-541-3100 FAX 202-541-3166 PrefaceDaniel Cardinal DiNardoArchbishop of Galveston-HoustonPresident.

5 united states conference of catholic BishopsI am pleased to present this fourteenth Annual Report on the progress of implementing the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Many people on the diocesan level, bishops , clergy, employees, and volunteers, have worked tirelessly to ensure they are meeting the require-ments set forth in the Charter, making our Church a place of healing for victims/survivors, as well as a place of protection for children and vulnerable years ago in 2002, the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was first imple-mented by the united states conference of catholic bishops .

6 We have learned much since that time and have grown in our efforts of protection and healing. Rather than become complacent, it is our responsibility to keep moving forward. Everyday we are planting the seeds of change within our communities. The goal of planting these seeds is to create cultures of safety and recovery everywhere within the Church. Creating a culture of protection and healing involves everyone s commitment and participation, from the bishop to the parish or school volunteer, and everyone in between.

7 We all must do our part to welcome victims/survivors, and join with them on their journey toward healing. It is thanks to their courage in coming forward that we now have services in place to help victims of abuse. We must each do our part to protect the children and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care from any type of harm. After fifteen years, we must again recommit ourselves more than ever before to not only keeping but enhancing our promise to protect and pledge to to Protect vi Pledge to HealNational Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People3211 Fourth Street Ne WaShiNgtoN DC 20017-1194 202-541-5413 Fax 202-541-5410 March 7, 2017 His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardoPresidentUnited states conference of catholic BishopsYour Eminence,I am pleased to present to you.

8 On behalf of the National Review Board (NRB), the Annual Report summarizing the results of the compliance audit conducted by StoneBridge Business Partners for 2016. As anticipated in the Charter, the audit is the instrument by which we can measure the efforts of the bishops to protect children and young people through the establishment of a safe environment within the Church. The audit calls the bishops to accountability and gauges the seriousness with which they are responding to the sexual abuse of minors by the clergy.

9 Maintaining the independence of the audit, along with the ongoing implementation of the Charter, will strengthen the credibility of the bishops , keep children at the center, and assist in restoring trust between the bishops and the faithful. In reviewing the results of this year s audit, it is evident that the bishops continue their efforts to implement the Charter. Of the sixty-five dioceses and eparchies that participated in the on-site audits, two dioceses were found to be non-compliant with respect to one article each and one eparchy was found to be non-compliant with respect to two articles.

10 It should also be noted that all one hundred twenty-nine dioceses that participated in the data collection audits were found to be compliant with the process. Important progress was made this year toward the participation of all dioceses and eparchies in the audit. Last year, a total of six dioceses/eparchies did not participate in the audit. I am pleased to Report that this year only two the Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark for Syrians and the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle did not participate in either an on-site or data collection audit.