Diocese in Compliance with Abuse Charter

Pittsburgh Catholic
December 12, 2014

http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.php?id=4095

Following a thorough on-site audit of procedures, the Diocese of Pittsburgh again has been found to be in full compliance with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”

The week of Oct. 20, auditors from StoneBridge Business Partners of Rochester, N.Y., visited the diocese to interview people and do spot inspections in parishes. StoneBridge conducts independent audits of compliance with the charter by dioceses and eparchies under an arrangement with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The auditors inspected diocesan policies and procedures for addressing allegations and ensuring that children are protected from potential abuse.

“As part of the audit, they met with seven or eight members of our diocesan staff, asking questions regarding those staff members’ knowledge with all of the policies and procedures required by the charter and how those specific staff members ensure that children are protected and a safe environment is maintained in the diocese,” said Father Tom Kunz, diocesan vicar for canonical services.

The auditors also went to several parishes to check their compliance with the policies. They spoke with the pastors, safe environment coordinators, catechetical administrators and school officials.

The diocese has always been found to be in compliance with the charter, Father Kunz said.

“The Diocese of Pittsburgh is the only diocese that, in addition to the required on-site audit every three years, also requests a regular audit of the diocese and parishes,” said Father Lawrence DiNardo, diocesan vicar general and general secretary. “The audit is an important tool so that the diocese can continue not only to meet the standards of the charter but continue to ensure the children, young people and vulnerable adults are protected. Once again, the auditors found that the Diocese of Pittsburgh was not only in compliance with the charter but exceeded the requirements of the charter.”

Father Kunz said the auditors were impressed with how well the parishes complied with the charter.

“They mentioned to Bishop David Zubik that the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s parishes were among the best that they had seen. They also noted that we were a leader in how we conducted our own regular internal audits by the manner in which our diocesan staff conducted audits of individual parishes.”