BishopAccountability.org
	Audit of N.H. Diocese Released Associated Press, carried in The Boston.com May 4, 2007 http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/05/04/audit_of_nh_diocese_released/ Concord, N.H. — An independent audit of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester has found critical gaps in programs to protect children from sexual abuse, state prosecutors said Friday. In its second court-mandated audit of the diocese, the state cited a lack of "acceptance or commitment" on the part of church leaders. Attorney General Kelly Ayotte said progress has been made, but she remains concerned 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. 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. 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. 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 review board's 2005 audit found that not all churches and parochial schools had fully complied with screening procedures for clergy, employees and volunteers who work regularly with minors. By a year ago, all had been screened, according to the diocese's latest audit.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.