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	Fargo Diocese Fails Compliance By Sherri Richards In-Forum [Fargo ND] March 31, 2006 http://www.in-forum.com/account/index.cfm?user=login&return_page=/ articles/index.cfm?id%3D122089%26section%3DNews The Diocese of Fargo is one of 22 U.S. Catholic dioceses not in full compliance with a national church abuse prevention policy. A November 2005 audit found the diocese did not meet the requirement for safe environment training. Results of the audit were released Thursday by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Diocese of Crookston, Minn., and the Diocese of Bismarck were in full compliance. The Fargo diocese does have a training program in place, but all of the training had not been completed at the time of the audit, said the Rev. Gregory Schlesselmann, vicar general of the Fargo diocese. "Part of the reason is it's on ongoing process," Schlesselmann said. "You have new people coming in. You have a turnover of volunteers from year to year," he said. All personnel, including clergy, staff and volunteers, are required to watch a training video. DIOCESE JUMP At times, the employee or volunteer has seen the video, but documentation hasn't reached the diocese office, he says. "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," he says. "I think we still have a few that are left in the process," he says. "My understanding is it's a handful." He says the diocese is committed to providing a safe environment for children. "We have been very committed long before … this crisis came to the surface in 2002," he says. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was adopted in 2002, at the height of the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal. Nearly 89 percent of the U.S. dioceses were fully compliant, a decrease from 95 percent last year. Of the 22 dioceses not in compliance, 21 did not have full safe environment training. Four dioceses have not fully complied with the call for background checks on employees. 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 of a credible allegation in 2005. The alleged event occurred before 1954. Both the priest and victim are now deceased, Schlesselmann said. The incident was reported by a family member of the alleged victim. The Bismarck and Crookston dioceses received no new reports. The new claims bring the total number of accusations against Catholic clergy to more than 12,000 since 1950. Costs related to these cases continue to climb. The bishops said the total cost of abuse in 2005 alone was nearly $467 million, including settlements, therapy for victims, support for offenders and attorneys' fees, among other things. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Readers can reach Forum reporter Sherri Richards at (701) 241-5525
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