NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Union Leader
By KATHRYN MARCHOCKI
Union Leader Staff
Manchester – The Diocese of Manchester yesterday released figures showing all clergy and most volunteers and staff who work with children underwent required criminal background checks and training in child-abuse prevention and child protection.
The diocese has assembled field review teams to independently verify the numbers over the next six months.
Release of the numbers comes three weeks after an independent audit done for the state attorney general found significant lapses in the Roman Catholic diocese’s compliance with its child-protection policies three years after implementing them.
Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte, when publicly releasing the audit report March 30, particularly faulted the diocese for failing to do criminal background checks on all clergy, volunteers and staff and not ensuring those people underwent training.