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	Fargo Diocese Not Fully in Compliance with Training Requirements The Associated Press, carried in Grand Forks Herald March 31, 2006 http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/state/14236554.htm FARGO, N.D. - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo has not fully complied with training requirements of a national church policy to prevent sexual abuse, a report says. A November audit by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops found the Fargo diocese among 22 that are not in compliance with the policy. The Diocese of Crookston, Minn., and the Diocese of Bismarck were found to be in full compliance. The Fargo diocese has a training program, but the training had not been completed at the time of the audit, said Rev. Gregory Schlesselmann, the vicar general of the diocese. "It's on ongoing process," Schlesselmann said. "You have new people coming in. You have a turnover of volunteers from year to year." Clergy, staff and other personnel are required to watch a training video. "As new people come on board, we simply have to ensure in a timely fashion all the necessary steps are taken, including the training video," Schlesselmann said. "I think we still have a few that are left in the process," he said. "My understanding is it's a handful." The diocese is committed to providing a safe environment for children, he said. Roman Catholic leaders received 783 new claims of sex abuse by clergy in 2005, a related survey showed. Most allegations involved cases that are decades old. The Diocese of Fargo received one report last year that it considered a credible allegation, Schlesselmann said. It involved an event before 1954 and both the priest and the alleged victim have since died, he said. The incident was reported by a family member of the alleged victim. The Bismarck and Crookston dioceses received no new reports.
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