MASSACHUSETTS
The Sun Chronicle
BY GLORIA LaBOUNTY AND STEPHEN PETERSON / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
A report issued by U.S. Catholic bishops says both the Archdiocese of Boston and the Fall River Diocese are in compliance with a national directive on protecting children from sexual abuse.
The report, the second of its kind on the implementation of the `` Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People'' adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002, says an audit in 2004 found the policies and procedures of both dioceses to be in line with the charter.
Bishop George Coleman of Fall River said the policies have been a priority for the diocese for more than 10 years.
`` I am committed to do all within my ability to prevent any occurrence of abuse to any child or young person by any priest, religious, employee or volunteer ministering as a representative of this diocese,'' Coleman said in a prepared statement.
However, at least one local victim of priest sex abuse remains leery and questions the findings.
`` They are going to have to prove to me a lot more than they have that they are in full compliance,'' said Peter Calderone of Attleboro, a victim of the late James Porter, the ex-priest who died of cancer last week.
`` I still wonder why names are still popping forward, and this is still happening. Are there records that have been destroyed or hidden away?
Posted by kshaw at February 20, 2005 09:34 AM