AG Gaps Remain in Church Abuse Programs State Says Church Leaders Lack Acceptance or Commitment, Associated Press, carried in The WMUR, May 4, 2007

AG: Gaps Remain in Church Abuse Programs
State Says Church Leaders Lack 'Acceptance or Commitment'

Associated Press, carried in The WMUR
May 4, 2007

http://www.wmur.com/news/13258699/detail.html

Concord, N.H. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester still doesn't meet abuse-prevention requirements negotiated with the Attorney General's Office more than four years ago and its leaders are flouting court-approved standards, according to an independent audit released Friday.

The audit noted there are "critical gaps" in programs to protect children from sexual abuse and that church leaders have been reticent in complying. The 117-parish diocese also relies too heavily on self-reporting and self-policing. The auditors also were critical about the "tone at the top," particularly in regard to the Rev. Edward Arsenault, who heads the diocese's efforts to prevent and report sexual abuse.

"In conducting this year's audit, KPMG encountered resistance from certain corners of the diocese, most notable from the Delegate for Ministerial Conduct Father Edward Arsenault. Since Father Arsenault is the face of the program to many of the employees and volunteers within the diocese, his attitude to the program is very important in terms of the reflection of the diocese's overall commitment to the process," said Attorney General Kelly Ayotte.

Diocese Of Manchester

She said the auditors "felt there were word games being played."

Arsenault disputed the characterization and said the auditors' vague language was to blame.

"We had agreed ahead of time to a particular protocol, namely that only one person would ask questions. When I pointed that out to the auditor, he was obviously upset about that and in disagreement. He chose to end the interview after 15 minutes. That was his decision."

Under a 2002 agreement, the diocese agreed to annual checks in exchange for avoiding criminal prosecution. The agreement came after the diocese acknowledged its conduct had harmed children and that it probably would have been convicted of child endangerment had it not settled with the state.

The diocese agreed to four audits, but legal wrangling delayed the first one by more than two years. Arsenault said the diocese will cooperate with the audits only through the end of this year — potentially warning of a fight with the attorney general.

"I hope the next audit will start soon. We're ready on Monday. I see no reason why there can't be an audit that starts now and one again in December," Arsenault said. "I think there's room for two audits between now and Dec. 31. ... I don't think this audit process is time efficient."

In this audit of the diocese, the state cited a lack of "acceptance or commitment" on the part of church leaders.

Last month, the diocese released its own internal audit, which said it made "significant progress" through better screening and training last year. The Diocesan Review Board said the diocese continues to report abuse allegations to civil authorities, but a church official wouldn't say how many allegations were received or passed along.

In the past five years, 15,000 church employees and volunteers have been trained to recognize and report signs of child abuse, according to Arsenault. The diocese's updated reporting policy now requires immediate reporting to the state attorney general's office as well as to child protection workers and local police when appropriate, no matter when the abuse occurred.

The audit found that one new allegation of sexual abuse by a priest had been made in the last year. Authorities would not give any details but said the accused priest no longer is in active ministry.

"The diocese relies heavily on self-reporting from coordinators at the local level but is not conducting an independent review of the files to determine, even on a random basis, whether in fact the parishes, schools and camps are in compliance with the necessary checks that need to be done," Ayotte said.

But Ayotte noted Friday that priests aren't automatically removed from active duty when an allegation is made. Instead, the diocese makes a determination if the allegation is credible — a self-policing system that critics say makes matters worse.

Arsenault said reports are immediately passed along to the attorney general, but no priest will be suspended if the charge is obviously bogus.

"When we receive a report, it has to have some standard of reason," Arsenault said. "To remove someone from ministry based on a report that does not have any factual basis, no semblance of truth if you will, is not a reasonable interpretation of our policy."

Advocates said the situation is unacceptable.

"The mere existence of policies and procedures on paper don't protect kids and any reasonable person realizes this," said David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "We're sad but not surprised that church officials still insist on moving slowly, not rapidly, in removing suspected pedophile employees. It is disappointing but typical that the church hierarchy continues to be obsessed with self-reporting and resists any real external help or monitoring."