Church Gets Good Marks in 3rd Audit , by Kathryn Marchocki, New Hampshire Union Leader, April 2, 2008

Church Gets Good Marks in 3rd Audit

By Kathryn Marchocki
New Hampshire Union Leader
April 2, 2008

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Church+gets+good+marks+in+3rd+audit&articleId=0ee3645b-91b0-475d-a91e-bb794acdcf12

CONCORD The state's top law enforcement officer yesterday commended Roman Catholic church leaders for significant strides they made toward improving child protection policies and practices since last year and their willingness to enact a strong program that will outlast their tenure.

Ayotte

"There has been dramatic improvement," state Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte said in releasing results of the third independent audit measuring the Diocese of Manchester's compliance with the child protection agreement it struck with the state in 2002.

The findings represent a marked change from last year's report when KPMG Forensic Services faulted top diocesan leaders for failing to set a "tone at the top" promoting lasting policies to protect children from sexual abuse.

Auditors this time credited Bishop John B. McCormack and his delegate for ministerial conduct, the Rev. Edward J. Arsenault, for their openness, willingness to accept feedback, and their leadership in creating an "environment of strong support" for child protection policies across the diocese.

"They recognized the importance of institutionalizing a strong program and to make it sustainable beyond their tenure," Ayotte said. While noting areas for improvement remain, Ayotte called this a "very encouraging development."

"Our ultimate goal is to have a sustainable program at the diocese to protect children," she explained.

Ayotte and church officials said they are prepared to proceed with a fourth and final audit. Annual audits are mandated as part of the agreement the diocese struck with the state to avoid criminal prosecution for its handling of alleged child sexual abuse by priests over a 40-year period.

"Protecting children and young people continues to be a focus of the entire Catholic Church in New Hampshire," McCormack said in a statement. He thanked thousands of clergy, teachers, administrators, lay staff and volunteers for their work.

The diocese has consistently complied with child abuse reporting requirements, Senior Assistant Attorney General N. William Delker said.

The state received 16 reports of alleged child sexual abuse from Jan. 1, 2007 to Dec. 31, 2007, Delker said. Of these, three involved lay leaders who have been removed from their posts pending criminal investigations, he said. The rest were made against priests, all but one of whom are dead or already have been accused, he said. The sole allegation that surfaced against a priest previously unknown to law enforcement was investigated, but there was not enough evidence to bring charges, Delker said.

So far this year, the diocese reported six child sexual abuse allegations, all involving priests, Delker said. One was proved unfounded, another involves a retired priest and currently is under investigation, Delker said. The rest involve dead priests or those already accused, he said.

KPMG said the diocese reached a "milestone" during the Aug. 13, 2007 to Nov. 1, 2007 audit period. They credited the diocese with revising its key policies dealing with ministerial conduct, child protection and the screening and training of church personnel.

They also cited the diocese's new Web-based data base that better enables it to monitor church personnel's compliance with its screening and training programs and greater use of the diocese's Web site to promote its policies and child protection awareness.

But a group representing more than 5,000 clergy abuse survivors nationwide - saying church leaders only took action against predatory priests when authorities forced them to do - said it would be "foolish to believe that they have ?reformed.'"

"It's naive and reckless for anyone to assume that these long-standing patterns of callousness, secrecy and deceit have ended," Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests Outreach Director Barbara Dorris said in a statement.

Arsenault said the audit proves the diocese has made child protection a "permanent pastoral priority" in New Hampshire.

"A hallmark of (Ayotte's) work as an attorney general has been the protection of children and young people. This is part of Bishop McCormack's legacy, that he has made this part of the day-to-day life of the church here in New Hampshire," he said.

Arsenault said the "tone at the top" issue raised in last year's audit stemmed from his interview with auditors.

"The interview didn't go well. I'm willing to take responsibility for whatever I contributed to that," he said.

Ayotte said last year was marked by open and positive dialogue between her staff and diocesan staff. A significant turning point occurred when the diocese agreed in August to submit to a fourth and final audit, something church leaders previously indicated they would resist. Ayotte said she also met with the bishop at his request last year, saying "we had a very open dialogue."

As required under the terms of the 2002 agreement, attorneys for the diocese and state appeared before Judge Carol A. Conboy at a Feb. 11 status conference in Hillsborough County Superior Court. Conboy ordered KPMG's fourth audit report be made public by Jan. 31, 2009. Afterward, either side may ask the court to extend the agreement. If neither side seeks an extension, the court will close its files and relinquish its jurisdiction over the matter, the judge wrote.

Ayotte praised progress made since the first audit released in 2006 revealed numerous lapses by the diocese, including its failure to do basic criminal background checks on staff and volunteers who work directly with children.

Even so, she said areas for improvement remain. They include changing the diocese's child protection policy to require the immediate removal of an alleged abuser from a position involving contact with minors. The current policy allows the bishop to first determine if the allegation bears a "semblance of truth" before the alleged abuser is placed on leave.