PEORIA (IL)
Pontiac Daily Leader
PEORIA -- The Catholic Diocese of Peoria remains in full compliance with the provisions of the U.S. Conference of Bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," Bishop Daniel R. Jenky announced this week.
The United States Conference of Bishops requires dioceses nationwide to partake in audits for the charter, and the audits were conducted by The Gavin Group, an independent audit firm based in Massachusetts, Jenky said in a news release Tuesday.
The Peoria diocese, in December, participated in "an extensive examination of all procedures and policies," conducted by two retired FBI agents hired by The Gavin Group, Jenky said. Results of the audit were reported on Jan. 13 to the diocese, concluding that the diocese remains in full compliance with all aspects of the charter. The auditors' report commended the diocese for the level of detail and documentation provided to them for review, Jenky said.
"Bishop Jenky is very grateful the people in the diocese have embraced the charter," said Patricia Gibson, diocesan chancellor. Her office was responsible for compiling the bulk of information to the auditors for review. The diocese is required to mandate that all employees and volunteers who come in contact with minors participate in the safe-environment program, as well as undergo fingerprinting and child-abuse background checks by the state's Department of Children and Family Services.
Posted by kshaw at January 29, 2005 06:28 AM