March 31, 2006

A summary of the state's complaints

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Concord Monitor

March 31. 2006 8:00AM

The state attorney general's office says the Diocese of Manchester must fix problems in its program for preventing sexual abuse by church personnel. In a letter to Bishop John McCormack, Attorney General Kelly Ayotte cites deficiencies that "undermine some of the core principles of the agreement":

• Lack of oversight. The state says the diocese has been ineffective in enforcing compliance with the agreement and its own policies. "This ineffectiveness has resulted in repeated missed deadlines . . . incomplete training, incomplete written acknowledgements, lack of background checks and unfilled positions," Ayotte wrote.

• Inconsistent compliance.Ayotte cited one parish in which "only 16 percent of employees of volunteers who worked with children had a sex offender registry check completed."

Posted by kshaw at March 31, 2006 07:46 AM