2004 Audit Executive Summary:
Apostolic Exarcate of Armenian Catholics
Exarch Manual Batakian Previous Audit- incomplete
2003
The information found herein represents conditions as they were found
to exist during the period from August 24 to 26, 2004.
The Exarchate does have a policy on
the prevention of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. This program is based
on the agreement of five of the six dioceses, in which the Exarchate’s
clergy conduct their ministry, to support the Exarchate in its
implementation of the Charter. The Exarchate does not have its own
outreach program to provide outreach designed to offer pastoral care to
victims/survivors and their families as it is not anticipated that
diocesan clergy will provide this service within the Exarchate. The Bishop
or his representative has not met with, or offered to meet with all
victims/survivors who have reported allegations of abuse since the last
compliance audit since there are no known victims/survivors as of the time
of the audit. The Bishop or his delegate has not directed outreach to all
faith communities in which the sexual abuse occurred because there are no
known victims/survivors. The Exarchate does have a mechanism in place to
respond promptly to any allegation where there is reason to believe that
sexual abuse of a minor occurred. A Required Action was issued regarding
the absence of an Outreach Program (see Required Action # 1)
The Exarchate does not have its own victim assistance coordinator as it
relies on the support of the victim assistance coordinators in five of the
Roman dioceses in which the Exarchate’s clergy reside. Negotiations
continue to secure similar support from the sixth and final diocese in
which the Exarchate conducts ministry (see required Action # 5). This
arrangement also applies to the establishment and constitution of a Review
Board.
The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are not readily
available in printed form and have not been the subject of periodic public
announcements. Required Action #6 was issued The Exarchate relies on the
Roman dioceses to provide those needed services. The Exarchate has not
entered into confidentiality agreement during the audit period.
The
Exarchate has never had any allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. With
regard to the Exarchate’s compliance with these Articles of the Charter,
the Exarchate complies in that it has arranged for five of the six
dioceses in which its clergy serve to support it in its implementation of
the Charter. Although dialogue continues with the sixth and final diocese,
agreement has not been reached as of the time of this audit and a Required
Action (# 5) was issued. The Exarchate has relied on its supporting
dioceses to establish effective liaison with civil authorities, ensuring
that an open dialogue regarding sexual abuse allegations will occur
through its arrangement with the dioceses in which its clergy serve. The
Exarchate also relies on the cooperation of its supporting dioceses with
public authorities about reporting in cases when the person is no longer a
minor. To date, the Exarchate has not had to advise victims/survivors of
their right to report allegations of abuse by a member of the clergy to
civil authorities as there have been no victims.
The Exarchate relies upon its supporting dioceses to conduct a
preliminary investigation in harmony with canon law. If a preliminary
investigation so indicated, the Exarchate will notify the Congregation for
the Doctrine of Faith and apply the precautionary measures mentioned in
CIC, canon 1722, or CCEO, canon 1473. When accusations against a priest or
a deacon are proved to be unfounded, the Exarchate will take steps to
restore the good name of the priest or deacon.
When sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or a deacon is admitted or
established after an appropriate process in accord with canon law, the
Exarchial policies provide that the offending priest or deacon be
permanently removed from ministry. The Exarchate will offer professional
assistance to offending priests or deacons as per its policy.
In every case involving canonical penalties, the Exarchial processes
provided for in canon law will be observed as per its policy. Accused
clergy will similarly be encouraged to retain the assistance of civil and
canonical counsel. When necessary, the Exarchate will also supply
canonical counsel to a priest or deacon.
If the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state has not been
applied, the Exarchate has committed to direct the offender to lead a life
of prayer and penance. The Exarchate’s policy does not allow the offender
to celebrate Mass publicly, to administer the sacraments, or to present
himself publicly as a priest.
The Exarchate has established clear and well-publicized standards of
ministerial behavior for priests and deacons. A communications policy is
not in effect which reflects the Bishop's pledge to be open and
transparent on issues regarding the sexual abuse of children (see Required
Action # 2). The Exarchate has not had an occasion to date to assist and
support all parish communities directly affected by ministerial misconduct
involving minors as there has never been a reported incident of sexual
abuse.
The Exarchate
has not implemented a "safe environment" education program (see required
Action # 3). The Exarchate has clear standards of conduct for persons in
positions of trust with regard to sexual abuse which will be publicized.
The Exarchate has not conducted background evaluations for any Exarchial
and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors, using
appropriate law enforcement resources where permissible (see Required
Action # 4). The Exarchate does employ adequate screening and evaluative
techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates for ordination.
The Exarchate has not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a
credible allegation of sexual abuse made against him to another
ministerial assignment since the last audit. The Exarchate has not
transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of
sexual abuse made against him to another diocese/Exarchate for residence
since the last audit period. There have been no instances of sexual abuse
of a minor.
The Bishop, or his designee, has not fully coordinated with each bishop
or major superior of men in each of dioceses the Exarchate’s clergy
conduct their ministry concerning addressing the issue of allegations of
sexual abuse of minors by clergy (see Required Action # 5). The Exarchate
has not had the opportunity to participate in research with other
institutions in the area of sexual abuse. The Exarchate’s systematic
ongoing formation program in keeping with the Basic Plan for the
Ongoing Formation of Priests is conducted by its seminaries which are
not located in the United States.
At the conclusion of this compliance audit,
the Exarchate was found to be compliant with all articles of the
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People with the
exception of Articles 1, 2, 7, 12, 13 and 15. The following Required
Actions were issued:
REQUIRED ACTION # 1 (Article # 1) - Healing, Outreach and
Reconciliation
The Exarchate will create and implement its own
written Outreach Program to provide for the healing, outreach and
reconciliation of victims/survivors and their families. Pastoral care
should be provided for in this program and it should also provide for
periodic public announcements to encourage victims/survivors and the
families to come forward. This Outreach Program should provide for
counseling, spiritual assistance, support groups and other social services
as agreed upon by the victim/survivor and the Exarchate.
REQUIRED ACTION # 2 (Article 7) – Communication Policy
The
Exarchate will establish a written communications policy to demonstrate
its commitment to openness and transparency. This policy should fully
avail itself of already established forms of communication (ex. letters
from the Exarch, the Exarchate’s Publication entitled “The Flame”, parish
bulletins and parish sermons) to advise parishioners of its Outreach
Program, to invite participation in its Safe Environment Program, to
publicize initiatives taken to fulfill the mandates of the CHARTER as well
as any additional reason deemed appropriate by the Exarchate. This policy
will also pertain to the publication by clergy to parishioners of at least
the following documents: victim/survivor complaint forms, the Exarchate’s
Code of Conduct, the Exarchate’s Policy on the Sexual Abuse of Minors by
Clergy and church personnel and both the Exarchate’s Safe Environment and
Background Investigation programs. Communication of these initiatives will
be made as soon as possible and will also be subject of periodic
re-announcements.
REQUIRED ACTION # 3 (Article 12) - Safe Environment
That the
Exarchate establish and implement a written “safe environment” program
which will provide training to ensure that children, youth, parents,
ministers, educators and other appropriate per: The Exarchate will
establish a written program to provide for the background investigation
for all Exarchial and parish personnel who have regular contact with
minors. The Exarchate will implement this program immediately upon its
creation.
REQUIRED ACTION # 4 (Article 13) – Background
Investigation
The Exarchate will establish a written program to
provide for the background investigation for all Exarchial and parish
personnel who have regular contact with minors. The Exarchate will
implement this program immediately upon its creation.
REQUIRED ACTION # 5 (Article 15) – Periodic meetings with diocesan
bishops
The Exarch will meet with the cardinal who has not agreed
to support the Exarchate to discuss his request to receive the support of
this diocese in facilitating the implementation of the CHARTER on behalf
of the Exarchate’s clergy. In the event that such agreement is not
reached, the Exarchate will devise its own program to implement the
CHARTER for its clergy in that particular diocese.
REQUIRED ACTION #6 (Article 2) – Response and
Reporting
Insure that procedures are established for making a
complaint of abuse, that they are available in printed form, and that they
are the subject of periodic public announcement.
Compliance with the Charter as of December 31, 2004
As of December 31, 2004, the Armenian Eparchy of Brooklyn was compliant
will all articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children and
Young People except Articles 1, 2, 7, 12, and 13. The Eparchy
completed the required action outline in #5, (Article 15) above.