NEBRASKA
Lincoln Journal Star
By Erin Andersen | Lincoln Journal Star
For the first time in 13 years, Lincoln’s Catholic Diocese will participate in the next sex abuse audit conducted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops — thereby ending its unflattering reign as the only diocese in the nation not to take part.
Bishop James D. Conley announced his decision to participate in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People annual audit of the 195 U.S. dioceses and eparchies, in his Sept. 11 column for the Southern Register, the Lincoln Diocese newspaper.
The decision reverses a longstanding and controversial position of Conley’s predecessor Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, who since 2003 refused to participate in the audit that looks at sex abuse allegations, investigations and actions in the church.
The Lincoln Diocese will take part in the upcoming audit cycle looking at 2015 (being released in 2016) and then review whether it will continue participating.
The USCCB began the annual audit in 2002, in response to increasing allegations of longtime sexual abuse of children by clergy and subsequent efforts to keep matters quiet. The Lincoln Diocese took part in the audit that first year, but has declined to participate ever since. It is one of six church districts not taking part — the other five are small eparchies (dioceses unique to certain ethnicities).
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