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	Diocese Given Top Grade for Charter Compliance By C.T. Maier and Robert P. Lockwood Pittsburgh Catholic October 12, 2007 http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.phtml?id=2044 The Diocese of Pittsburgh was found once again to be in full compliance with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," following a thorough audit of diocesan policies and practices in August. The audit was conducted by The Gavin Group Inc., an independent auditing organization headquartered in Boston. An independent audit is required under the charter guidelines. This was the fourth audit conducted on the diocese since 2003. In each of the previous audits, the diocese was found to have met and exceeded the charter's requirements. The charter has action articles that call on every diocese to promote healing and reconciliation with victims/survivors of sexual abuse of minors, to guarantee an effective response to allegations of sexual abuse of minors, to ensure the accountability of these procedures and to protect the faithful in the future. "The Diocese of Pittsburgh takes the safety of the children and young people in our parishes, schools and programs very seriously," said Aux. Bishop Paul Bradley, diocesan general secretary. "We are pleased at the results of the latest audit. It confirms that we are doing what needs to be done on this important issue," Bishop Bradley said. Even before the charter was adopted in 2002, the diocese had a strong public record of responding to accusations of clergy sexual misconduct. Policies were first drafted in the 1980s, and since 1993 it has had formal published policies in place. The diocese has regularly revised these policies, with the last revision taking place in August 2006. To guarantee an effective response to allegations of sexual abuse of minors, the diocese has long emphasized a zero-tolerance policy in which just one credible allegation of an offense means permanent removal from ministry, even without civil authorities determining whether the offense can be prosecutable. An important part of the process is the diocesan review board, which has been in place in the Diocese of Pittsburgh since 1989. With a membership ranging from lawyers and psychologists to parents of victims, the review board advises the bishop on all allegations of sexual misconduct and suitability for ministry. In keeping with national guidelines, the majority of the board's members are not diocesan employees. The charter also made it clear that effective response means a commitment to transparency and openness. Procedures for filing complaints of sexual abuse, as well as standards of ministerial behavior, must be clear, readily available and well-publicized. The diocese's commitment to transparency means working closely with civil authorities. During the abuse scandal, many in the media raised questions about the church's pastoral practice of maintaining the confidentiality of abuse cases. To address this concern, the charter asked that no confidentiality agreements be entered into in dealing with accusations of sexual abuse of minors, except for grave reasons raised by the victim. As a mandated reporter of child sexual abuse, the diocese reports all allegations of abuse directly to civil authorities. This year, changes to Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law have increased the responsibilities of those who work with young people by making failure to report child abuse a crime. The diocese has provided materials on the changes to parishes and schools and is currently offering training on the changes. The diocese's commitment to transparency includes the publication and implementation of its Code of Pastoral Conduct. The code outlines standards expected of all who act in the name of the church, not only for priests, deacons and seminarians, lay people and members of consecrated life employed by the diocese or any of its parishes, but for anyone who volunteers, from parish social ministers and extraordinary ministers of holy Communion to choir members and greeters. To implement the code and the safe environment programs, the diocese established its own Office for the Protection of Children and Young People in spring 2007. The office is directed by Ron Ragan, former director of the Gilmary Diocesan Center in Moon Township, who has extensive experience with ministry with and for young people. The office also maintains a new diocesan database that allows the diocese to track compliance with the charter's requirements for background checks — including an FBI fingerprint background check — for all clergy, employees or volunteers who have contact with young people, as well as the completion of training in the diocese's safe environment programs. The database is an ongoing effort, and the diocese urges volunteers to continue to participate in it in the years ahead. With the appointment of Bishop David Zubik as the 12th bishop of Pittsburgh, the diocese is poised to continue its efforts. Bishop Zubik, who served as an auxiliary bishop under Archbishop Donald Wuerl, was intimately involved with development of the diocese's policies and shares his predecessor's commitment. Copies of the Policy on Clergy Sexual Misconduct or the Code of Pastoral Conduct are available from the Department for Communica-tions, Diocese of Pittsburgh, 111 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222. The policies are also on the diocesan Web site at www.diopitt.org. A toll-free line connected to the office of the assistance coordinator for use by anyone who feels they may be a victim of abuse by a priest or any other church personnel is available. The number is 1-888-808-1235. The diocese has also established a page on its Web site for victims (see accompanying box).
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