2004 Audit Executive Summary:
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk
Previous Audit Conducted 6
/30 – 7/2/2003
The information found herein represents conditions as they were found
to exist during the week of 8/2-6/2004.
The Archdiocese has a policy on the
prevention of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The Archdiocese provides
outreach designed to offer pastoral care to victims/survivors and their
families. The Archbishop or his representative has met with, or offered to
meet with all victims/survivors who have reported allegations of abuse
since the last compliance audit. Since the last audit 111 victim/survivors
have been identified and 11 additional victims/survivors have chosen to
remain anonymous. These allegations have been reported to proper civil
authorities and appropriate steps have been taken to address the accused.
The Archbishop or his delegate has directed outreach to all faith
communities in which the sexual abuse occurred. The Archdiocese has a
mechanism in place to respond promptly to any allegation where there is
reason to believe that sexual abuse of a minor occurred.
The Archdiocese has a victim assistance coordinator, Father Joseph
Binzer who is a priest, a CPA and former Director of Personnel Development
in an accounting firm. Fr.Binzer is assisted by Jane Kriege, a social
worker. The Archdiocese in 1993 established a Review Board which consists
of seven members. The members include two social workers, a juvenile court
judge, a psychologist, a Catholic school principal, a counselor/therapist
and a pastor of a parish. The Board serves as a confidential consultative
body to the Archbishop.
The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in
printed form, and are the subject of periodic public announcements. The
Archdiocese has entered into one confidentiality agreement during the
audit period at the insistence of a victim/survivor and their attorney for
reasons brought forward by the victim/survivor.
The Archdiocese reported
all allegations of sexual abuse of a minor to public authorities since the
last compliance audit. The Archdiocese complies with all applicable civil
laws with respect to the reporting of allegations of sexual abuse of
minors to civil authorities. The Archdiocese has established effective
liaison with civil authorities, ensuring that an open dialogue regarding
sexual abuse allegations will occur. The Archdiocese cooperates with
public authorities about reporting in cases when the person is no longer a
minor. In all instances, the Archdiocese advises victims/survivors of
their right to report allegations of abuse by a member of the clergy to
civil authorities.
When an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or deacon is
received, a preliminary investigation, in harmony with canon law, is
initiated. If a preliminary investigation so indicates, the Archdiocese
notifies the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and applies the
precautionary measures mentioned in CIC, canon 1722, or CCEO, canon 1473.
When accusations against a priest or a deacon are proven to be unfounded,
the Archdiocese takes 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
Archdiocesan policies provide that the offending priest or deacon be
permanently removed from ministry. The Archdiocese offers professional
assistance to offending priests or deacons.
In every case involving canonical penalties, the processes provided for
in canon law are observed. Accused clergy are encouraged to retain the
assistance of civil and canonical counsel. When necessary, the Archdiocese
supplies canonical counsel to a priest or deacon.
If the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state has not been
applied, the Archdiocese directs the offender to lead a life of prayer and
penance. The Archdiocese does not allow the offender to celebrate Mass
publicly, to administer the sacraments, or to present himself publicly as
a priest.
The Archdiocese has established clear and well-publicized standards of
ministerial behavior for priests and deacons. A communications policy is
in effect which reflects the Archbishop’s pledge to be open and
transparent on issues regarding the sexual abuse of children. The
Archdiocese does assist and support all parish communities directly
affected by ministerial misconduct involving minors.
The Archdiocese has fully implemented a
"safe environment" education program. The educational program for children
is the Decree on Child Protection. This Decree along with the Council on
Child Abuse Program also address parents, ministers, educators/school
staff and volunteers The Archdiocese has clear and well publicized
standards of conduct for persons in positions of trust with regard to
sexual abuse. The Archdiocese conducts background evaluations for all
Archdiocesan parish personnel who have regular contact with minors, using
appropriate law enforcement resources where permissible. The Archdiocese
has not completed the background investigation on all of the priests and a
required action was issued. The Archdiocese employs adequate screening and
evaluative techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates for
ordination.
The Archdiocese 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 Archdiocese has not
transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of
sexual abuse made against him to another diocese/eparchy for residence,
without providing the proper notification to the new Archdiocese/eparchy
of residence.
The Archbishop, or his designee, has coordinated with major superiors
of men with a presence in the Archdiocese concerning addressing the issue
of allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The Archdiocese has
participated in research with other institutions in the area of sexual
abuse. The Archdiocese has developed a systematic ongoing formation
program in keeping with the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of
Priests.
At the conclusion of this
compliance audit, the Archdiocese was found to be compliant with all
articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young
People with the exception of Article number thirteen (13). The
following Required Action was issued:
REQUIRED ACTION # 1 Article #13 – It is recognized that the
Archdiocese has an excellent program in place for conducting background
investigations, noting that over thirty thousand have been completed
during the audit period; however, thirty eight (38) priests have not been
fingerprinted in order to initiate the background investigation process. A
Required Action document was issued to complete the background checks with
emphasis on the priests who have not complied.
Compliance with the Charter as of December 31, 2004
As of December 31, 2004, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati had
satisfactorily completed the required action. The Archdiocese is found to
be compliant with all articles of the Charter for the Protection of
Children and Young People.
To date, over 70,000 people have participated in the orientation
programs for the Decree on Child Protection of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati. Additionally, over 40,000 fingerprinting background checks
have been completed, including all the priests and deacons of the
Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
In November 2003, in an effort to assist victims of sexual abuse and to
aid in the healing process, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati established a
$3,000,000 Claims Resolution fund. Persons who were sexually abused by
someone under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (such as
priests, deacons, employees or volunteers) who had not yet been
compensated by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati were required to file a claim
by September 1, 2004.