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	Mixed Reviews on Rockville Centre Diocese Audit By Bart Jones Newsday March 7, 2008 http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-licath0308,0,5366854.story Catholic groups and children advocates Friday offered mixed opinions on an audit on the Rockville Centre diocese's adherence to a charter on child protection adopted after the church sex abuse scandal. Some said the diocese, which for the first time in five years was found not to be in compliance with the charter, should be applauded because it passed 98 percent of the review. Others said the audit underscored serious shortcomings. The audit, officially released Friday, found Rockville Centre could not provide documentation that 2,300 of 64,000 volunteers had undergone Virtus "safe environments" training on how to prevent child sex abuse. Nationwide, 12 of 190 dioceses studied were found not to be in compliance. Rockville Centre is taking the charter "extremely seriously," said the Rev. Bill Brisotti of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church in Wyandanch, who has criticized church leaders on some issues in the past. "I don't think it's fair" to label the diocese as out of compliance because of shortcomings in one area, said Brisotti, who also heads Voice of the Ordained, a group of priests sometimes critical of the church hierarchy. "It's over the top." But Phil Megna of Long Island Voice of the Faithful, a group of lay people often critical of church leaders, said the audit showed the diocese is failing in its efforts. "When will the hierarchy of our beloved church realize that the protection of our children must be their No. 1 concern?" Megna said. Children advocates were split in their reactions. Cynthia Scott of the Garden City-based Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect said the diocese has made great advances: "I think the program is a good program and I applaud they are doing it." But Tim Eschausse, Long Island coordinator for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said lacking documentation that 2,300 volunteers were trained is "clearly unacceptable."
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