SAN BERNARDINO (CA)
The Press-Enterprise
11:38 PM PST on Wednesday, January 11, 2006
By MICHAEL FISHER / The Press-Enterprise
During the past 18 months, the Diocese of San Bernardino has trained nearly 59,000 adults and children on recognizing and preventing child sexual abuse, bringing the Inland diocese near full compliance with child-protection reforms mandated by Roman Catholic bishops in the United States.
The diocese, which underwent a voluntary audit of its programs last month, will have met all its requirements after it trains another 19,000 children and adults. The task is expected to be completed by the end of June, said Deacon Michael Jelley, who oversees the diocese's programs to protect children and aid abuse victims.
The review is part of an annual report commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to determine whether the nation's 187 dioceses and eparchies -- Eastern-rite dioceses -- are meeting the goals outlined in a sweeping charter approved by the bishops in June 2002, as they sought to cope with the clergy sexual-abuse scandal gripping the church.
The full report, which has been criticized by victims advocates as self-serving, is expected to be released in April, a conference spokesman said.