BishopAccountability.org
	Charter Drift National Survivor Advocates Coalition April 13, 2011 http://nationalsurvivoradvocatescoalition.wordpress.com/editorials/ The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) calls your attention to the following section in the Audit Report on compliance with the US Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. NSAC has added the italics and the bold print. The increased number of Management Letters (NSAC Note: 55 out of 188 dioceses received management letters from the current audit — there are 195 dioceses and eparchies, 2 dioceses and 5 eparchies refused to participate in the 2010 audit) seems to indicate a drift away from the practices and procedures of the past. A number of the Management Letters dealt with Bishop Aymond's memo of March 31, 2006, that requires pastors to verify that the policies and procedures of the diocese are being implemented at the parish level. The memo also requires written opt-out letters from parents choosing not to have their children participate in safe environment training. Though these requirements have been in effect since 2006, eighteen dioceses advised that they were unaware of the requirement and thus failed to get such documentation from pastors.62 2010 Annual Report: Findings and Recommendations Other examples of drift include: • Failing to meet with major superiors of all religious orders in a diocese (NSAC Note: this refers to Bishops meeting with major superiors) • Downsizing, consolidating, or redistributing tasks of the Safe Environment Office, causing some important tasks to be overlooked. The economy seems to have had a compounding effect on this. • Allowing removed clerics to celebrate public liturgies (NSAC Note: Permission to celebrate public liturgies is given to priests or withheld from priests by Bishops) The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People isn't a strong document. Now there is drift from even the minimum of pledges. Remember, this is coming from volunteered information by managers of dioceses. The auditors have no subpoena power. There is no independent look at what Bishops are doing. It can't be verified that what is given to the auditors is all the manager of a diocese, the Bishop, knows. If you think this information means sleeves are rolled up, senses are heightened, and everyone's on guard to protect children from rape and sodomy, please do nothing. BUT, if you think Charter Drift is both an arrogant and an appalling development, please write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and your local Catholic paper and speak out. Only a few lines are necessary to make your point. This is about the protection of children. It will be the most important thing you do today. Kristine Ward, Chair, NSAC
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.