Catholic Diocese of KC-St.Joe releases annual report on sexual abuse

By Dia Wall
KSHB
October 25, 2015

http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/catholic-diocese-of-kc-stjoe-releases-annual-report-on-sexual-abuse

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The catholic diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is releasing its latest numbers on reported sexual abuse.

This week, the Office of Child and Youth Protection sent 41 Action News the latest information on investigations, training and victim’s services.

To date, there are:

6 pending investigations
4 substantiated claims
4 cleared cases
3 unsubstantiated cases
1 referred to religious community

Carrie Cooper is the director of the child and youth protection office. She said after the Shawn Ratigan scandal of 2011 the church, “Really needed a concentrated effort that was direct and transparent and accountable after a trust was breached in our diocese."

This is the fourth annual report her office has released since its creation.

In the last year, close to 12,000 children and youth have gone through specialized training on how to recognize and report suspected abuse. More than 2,000 adults took part in training as well.

Cooper said as a result, there has been a sharp increase in reports of boundary violations in situations like, "If someone kissed someone that was in a role where that wouldn't be appropriate."

That can lead to "Concerns about somebody being a predator and in those instances there has to be a separation with the church and there has to be different action," according to Jenifer Valenti, the ombudsman for the diocese.

Instances of boundary violations have not been the only change in this year’s report.

Valenti said, "Kind of the trend in the last year was for more of those cases to involve volunteers than it has in the past.”

Close to 2,300 background checks were conducted from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 on employees and volunteers. Cooper says the goal is to create a sense of community when it comes to protecting children.

5 Things You Can Do

1. Develop loving and appropriate relationships with your children.
2. Teach your children safety,
3. Know who has access to your children.
4. Learn the warning signs of abuse.
5. Trust your instincts.

When an accusation of sexual abuse does comes in, Valenti says the person is put on administrative leave immediately so they don't have access to kids.

She advises everyone in the diocese to contact law enforcement and children’s services first, then give her a call.

"I conduct an internal investigation that involves interviewing the person whose been accused of certain behavior as well as other people who may have observed it so it's handled like any other investigation you would see," Valenti said.