VERMONT
Rutland Herald
March 31, 2006
By KEVIN O'CONNOR Herald Staff
Vermont's Catholic Church is one of 11.5 percent of the nation's dioceses that have yet to fully comply with all provisions of a toughened sex abuse policy, an independent report said Thursday.
Bishop Salvatore Matano said the statewide Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is one article away from compliance with the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" adopted by U.S. bishops four years ago at the height of a priest misconduct scandal.
The diocese still is working on "safe environment training," having completed programs in all 17 of its Catholic schools and hoping to finish in the state's 130 parishes by June 30.
The church also is reviewing its background checks on all its employees, said Kevin Scully, diocesan director of Safe Environment Programs.