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	Local Catholic Diocese Updates Policy, Takes Steps to Prevent Abuse By James Dowd Commercial Appeal April 7, 2010 http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/apr/07/we-achieved-full-compliance-local-diocese-policy/ In the years since the Catholic Diocese of Memphis was first publicly connected to clergy sex-abuse allegations, numerous steps have been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of parishioners, church leaders maintain. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002, conducted a study that exposed sexual abuse by Catholic clergy dating to 1950. Following the release of the study, the Memphis diocese was named in January 2004 as one of 20 dioceses not complying with a national policy designed to prevent sexual abuse of children. Local officials promised that the Memphis diocese would soon be in full compliance and began updating their policy regarding the safety of children and requiring criminal background checks on church employees. A request by The Commercial Appeal for an interview with Bishop J. Terry Steib was declined, but inquiries about diocesan practices were addressed by a diocesan priest. "We took the report seriously and made every effort to be compliant," said Father John Geaney, spokesman for the diocese. "We achieved full compliance and have remained so." The Memphis diocese began requiring background checks on all clergy, seminary prospects and volunteers who work with minors. The diocese has performed such checks on new school employees since 2000. In fact, Geaney said that more than 6,200 people -- all priests, deacons, religious and lay professionals and volunteers -- who have contact with children have received training to spot signs of sexual abuse and how to respond if such signs appear. A diocesan review board, consisting primarily of laity, was formed to consult with and advise the bishop regarding any allegations of abuse. And a number of regulations were established, including forbidding priests to have any minors -- with the exception of family members -- in their rooms, and not allowing minors to spend the night at any rectory. Priests also may not spend their days off with a nonrelated minor unless parents or other adults are present, and field trips or social programs involving minors must also include at least one other adult. In addition, the policy explicitly states that "Priests must avoid activities such as hugging, tickling, wrestling and any other activities that involve physical contact with minors that may be misconstrued as inappropriate sexual contact on the part of the minor, the minor's parent(s) or other third parties." By March 2006, the diocese was deemed fully compliant with the regulations regarding reporting and addressing sexual abuse of minors as part of the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 2005 Annual Report. And in 2007, an independent audit by the Massachusetts-based Gavin Group determined the diocese was in conformity with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. In 2008, the diocese began offering contact information and a national hotline number for victims of clergy sexual abuse. And the diocese has paid for counseling services for some abuse victims. "We are committed to helping victims -- emotionally, financially and spiritually -- to become whole," Geaney said. "Also, everyone in the diocese who has contact with children, from clergy to volunteers, has been trained to spot signs of sexual abuse and we encourage any victims to come forward." But while diocesan officials emphasize that much has been done, some victims' advocates worry that little has changed. For years, Tennessee leaders of the Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests called on the diocese to compile a list of abusive priests and make it available to every parish. To date, such a list has not been distributed. "Originally we knew of seven bad priests, then it got to be 10, then 15, and now who even knows the actual number?" said David Brown, area director for SNAP. "We want the names and locations of the priests with problems, but the diocese keeps silent. We want them to be completely transparent." Additionally, Brown said SNAP wants the diocese to own up to any wrongdoing it may have committed by moving suspected abusers to other locales. "The problem is that most abusers don't stop abusing; they'll just keep doing it until they're caught," Brown said. "If a priest did that here and then got shipped somewhere else, odds are that he kept abusing victims." Geaney said church leaders are doing their best to prevent abuse and promote a responsible priesthood. According to diocesan policy, "No priest or deacon who has committed an act of sexual abuse of a minor may be transferred for ministerial assignment to the Diocese of Memphis."
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