CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
SERVING SAN FRANCISCO, MARIN & SAN MATEO COUNTIES
www.catholic-sf.org
APRIL 3, 2015
$1.00 | VOL. 17 NO. 10
So there is NO Doubt The Catholic Church’s Solution to End the abuse of children
You can Help
Young People is to advise the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on all matters related to child and youth protection. A Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection was established in 2002 by the USCCB. The National Review Board is a consultative body that reviews the work of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection and advises the president of the USCCB. In addition, each diocese has a review board to advise its bishop in his assessment of allegations and in his determination of a cleric‘s suitability for ministry. To prove their commitment to accountability, dioceses undergo an annual audit conducted by an outside auditor.
You can get Help
Part Four - To Protect the Faithful in the Future.
You can help prevent the abuse of children. Know the warning signs of offenders. They prefer to be with children. They go overboard touching, wrestling, or tickling children. They may give minors alcohol or drugs, or show them pornography. They allow children to break the rules. Offenders act as if the rules do not apply to them. If you observe an adult who is not behaving appropriately with children, speak up. Let someone know what you saw. You are not accusing anyone of anything. You are letting someone know you care, are watching, and are concerned that no harm is done to a child. Abuse is never the fault of the victim. It is always the responsibility of the offender. The reality is that most victims of abuse know their abuser. One in four females and one in six males report being abused as a minor. If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse there are things you can do even if the abuse happened years ago. Call the police to report the abuse. If the abuser was in a position of authority in an organization, report the abuse to that organization. Call an abuse crisis hotline. If it happened in a Catholic church or school, contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator for the diocese. If you need help contacting the right person go to usccb.org or call (202) 541-5413.
The Charter
In Dallas in June of 2002, the bishops of the United States adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Charter is the plan of action developed by the bishops to address the clergy scandal.
Part One - To Promote Healing and Reconciliation with Victim/ Survivors of Abuse of Minors
The wording of the Charter is very clear on the importance the bishops place on their responsibility to help victims find healing and reconciliation. It states: “The first obligation of the Church with regard to the victims is for healing and reconciliation.” Outreach takes a variety of forms from
extensive therapy to apology meetings, to spiritual retreats and Mass for healing. In 2013, outreach was provided to 2,183 victims and their families.
have been found guilty or admitted guilt are permanently removed from ministry. There are clear standards of behavior and appropriate boundaries for all clergy, employees and volunteers
Part Two - To Guarantee an Effective Response to Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors
All dioceses are to report all allegations of sexual abuse of minors to public authorities. All clergy who
Part Three - To Ensure the Accountability of Our Procedures
The mission of the Bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and
Dioceses are to train clergy, employees and volunteers how to create and maintain safe environments for children. The backgrounds of clergy, employees, and volunteers are to be evaluated to determine if someone should not be allowed around children and young people. Over 2 million parish employees and volunteers, and 4.6 million children have been Safe Environment trained to recognize the behavior of offenders and what to do about it. Safe Environment training was also provided to 167,953 educators, 251,000 other employees, 35,914 priests, 16,129 deacons, and 6,360 candidates for ordination. Background evaluations have been conducted on over 2 million parish volunteers and Church personnel who have contact with children. Seminary screening has been tightened and transfers among dioceses of clergy who have committed abuse against minors are forbidden.
A prayer for healing victims of abuse Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,
Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labors.
heal your people’s wounds
Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.
and transform brokenness into wholeness. Grant us the courage and wisdom,
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
humility and grace, to act with justice.
Amen.
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CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | APRIL 3, 2015
CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | APRIL 3, 2015
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Promise to Protect Pledge to Heal The Office of Child and Youth Protection values the continued partnership with our schools and religious education programs and our shared commitment to protecting children.
We are Proud to Announce 2015 Child Abuse Prevention Month Contest Winners
Bishops’ Child Protection Office Lists Messages Children Hear In Safe Environment Programs In Catholic schools and parishes nationwide, safe environment training gives children the skills necessary to protect themselves from would beoffenders. Mary Jane Doerr, associate director of the Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has listed here some of the messages children hear in safe environment programs.
Mia Marquez Kindergarten, St. Catherine of Siena
Christina Perea Grade 1, St. Timothy
Jake Kline Grade 1, St. Catherine of Siena
Kayla Kassner Grade 2, St. Timothy
1. ABUSE IS NEVER A CHILD’S FAULT, a point that children need to hear over and over again.Offenders try hard to make children feel complicit in the abuse or to blame them for the abuse. Children learn that that is never true! The blame always belongs to the adult who is taking advantage of a child’s trust and vulnerabilities. 2. GOD LOVES CHILDREN FOREVER AND WANTS THEM TO LIVE HOLY AND HAPPY LIVES. If a child has been abused, that child learns they are still innocent and loved by God and their families. The shame of child sexual abuse needs to be put where it belongs: on the abuser.
Talisha Flores Grade 3, St. Charles School
Brianna Grade 5, St.Charles Borromeo
Dakota Chinn Grade 4, St. Mary’s
Jeannine Pili Grade 5, Holy Angels
Jazmin Ojeda Grade 4, Our Lady Mt.Carmel
Nicole Martinez Grade 7, St.Charles Borromeo
Avalon Marandas Grade 5, St. Mary’s
Marco Gonzales Grade 8
3. ABUSE THAT HAS HAPPENED SHOULD BE REPORTED. Children learn to tell a parent or another trusted adult if someone is hurting them and to keep telling until they are believed. One study shows that children tell of their abuse an average of nine times before someone believes them. Parents can help children learn whom they can trust by pointing out the adults who can be trusted. Parents can also teach children the correct names of private body parts. This simple step gives children the vocabulary to tell others what happened to them. 4. YOU CAN RECOGNIZE ABUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS. Children learn to trust feeling that say something isn’t right and to tell a parent or other trusted adult when something happens that makes them feel uneasy. Children learn to question if someone is telling them to do what the child doesn’t like but says it is because he loves the child. Children learn to tell parents or trusted adult if another person makes them sad or confused or tries to get them to break rules. This can stop the process of grooming by which an abuser lures a child toward danger. A child who questions another’s inappropriate behavior can send a message to the offender that this child is not an easy target, but one that will tell what is being done to him/her.
5. THERE ARE WAYS TO SPOT A GROOMING PROCESS. Offenders are willing to spend a great deal of time grooming the family, the child and even the community so they may be seen as a trusted family friend. Children learn that anyone who lets children break rules, gives them alcohol or shows them pornography needs to be reported to parents and other trusted adults. Children learn not to keep secrets from parents. They learn that they should tell parents when someone gives them special gifts or is always touching them or tickling them and says not to tell. 6. PARENTS OR OTHER TRUSTED ADULTS WILL TALK ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. Children often try to protect their parents from bad news, so they need to learn they can tell their parents anything. This lesson is conveyed when parents stay involved in their children’s activities and talk with them about what is happening in their lives. This is how children learn what can be shared with parents. The more effective safe environment programs include parents in the learning process. This gives the child a clear signal that this subject is not off limits but instead is something to be talked about with family members. 7. BOUNDARIES EXIST. Learning about personal boundaries can protect children and their knowing boundaries reinforces the teaching to listen to one’s instincts. Children who listen to the voice that says, “This doesn’t feel right,” can protect themselves. 8. CHILDREN CAN STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES. Children need to be respectful and obey, yet at the same time need to know there are times when it is okay to say no to an adult. Children learn when it is appropriate for them to say, “No, stop doing that.” For example, they hear they can say no to someone who makes them uncomfortable, shows them pornography, or offers them alcohol. 9. THERE ARE WAYS TO EXPLAIN INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. Children learn how to describe what’s happening when someone is doing something that just seems a “little weird” even though it may not seem wrong. The ability to articulate what has happened to a child enables a child to more easily confide in a parent or other trusted adult. This can alert the adult to a potentially dangerous situation so it can be avoided. This is ultimately the goal of safe environment education.
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CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO | APRIL 3, 2015
Did You Know… 1. Many of the 195 dioceses and eparchies participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month. They use this month as an opportunity to highlight the many activities the diocese/eparchy is doing to prevent child sexual abuse. 2. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was established by the USCCB in June 2002. It is a comprehensive set of procedures for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. It is revised continually to reflect the ongoing commitment of the bishops. 3. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. 4. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People begins with an apology from the bishops. “Since 2002, the Church in the United States has experienced a crisis without precedent in our times. The sexual abuse of children and young people by some deacons, priests, and bishops, and the ways in which these crimes and sins were addressed, have caused enormous pain, anger, and confusion. As bishops, we have acknowledged our mistakes and our roles in that suffering, and we apologize and take responsibility again for too often failing victims and the Catholic people in the past. From the depths of our hearts, we bishops express great sorrow and profound regret for what the Catholic people have endured.” For more information, please see: Page 3 of the Charter Booklet. 5. The Charter directs action in all the following matters: • Healing and reconciliation of victims and survivors, • Making prompt and effective response to allegations, • Cooperating with civil authorities, • Disciplining offenders, • Creating a safe environment for children and young people, • And providing for means of accountability for the future to ensure the problem continues to be effectively dealt with through the Secretariat
Victim Assistance Coordinator, Renee Duffey, PsyD. (415) 614-5506 duffeyr@sfarch.org
of Child and Youth Protection and the National Review Board. 6. The Charter calls for annual audits of dioceses/eparchies to ascertain compliance with the Charter by the bishop and his diocese/eparchy. Annual Audits have been conducted since 2003. Of the 195 dioceses/eparchies, 191 participated in the 2013 audit. Results of the 2013 audits have been published and a copy will be sent to the Holy See. 7. Safe Environment training is taking place in all audited dioceses/eparchies of the country. Over 2 million parish employees and volunteers, and 4.6 million children have been trained to recognize the behavior of offenders and what to do about it. 8. Safe Environment training was also provided to 167,953 educators, 251,000 other employees, 35,914 priests, 16,129 deacons, and 6,360 candidates for ordination. These people were also trained to recognize the behaviors of offenders and what to do about it.
13. Regardless of when the abuse occurred, a cleric against whom there is an established or admitted act of child sexual abuse is permanently removed from the priesthood. There is no statute of limitations for removing a cleric who has sexually abused a minor from public ministry in the Catholic Church. This year 23 priests were removed for past abuse first reported this year. 14. Dioceses/eparchies require intensive background screening as well as psychological testing for those wishing to enter the seminary. Audit figures for 2013 report out of 6,458 Candidates for Ordination 6,360 have been trained (98.5%) and 6,428 (99.5%) have had a background check. 15. Over 4,645,700 children were given the skills to recognize both a grooming process and to tell parents and other trusted adults about such behavior. 16. Again in 2013, no diocese or eparchy entered into confidentiality settlements unless the victim/survivors/survivor requested it and it was specifically noted in the agreement. 17. Dioceses/eparchies report allegations of sexual abuse of a minor to the civil authorities. For more information, please see: Page 11 of the Charter Booklet.
9. Background evaluations have been conducted on over 2 million parish volunteers and Church personnel who have contact with children.
18. The Charter requires that all dioceses/eparchies be open and transparent regarding cases of sexual abuse. Parishes affected by abuse are informed openly, honestly and compassionately of allegations.
10. Additionally 168,013 educators, 253,587 other employees, 35,970 priests, 16,199 deacons and 6,428 candidates for ordination have had their backgrounds evaluated.
19. There is a bishop representative from each episcopal region of the U.S. on the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People.
11. All audited dioceses/eparchies have Codes of Conduct spelling out what is acceptable behavior. These codes serve to let people know what behaviors are and are not accepted as well as what behavior can be expected. 12. All dioceses/eparchies have Victim Assistance Coordinators, assuring victims that they will be heard. In 2013 dioceses/eparchies provided outreach to 2,183 victim/survivors.
20. The Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection helps dioceses/ eparchies/become and maintain compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and to integrate the Charter into the diocesan way of life. For more information please visit, www.usccb.org/ about/child-and-youth-protection/.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Safe Environment Coordinator-Adults, Twyla Powers (415) 614-5576 powerst@sfarch.org
Child and Youth Protection Programs, Enedina Saucedo M.A. (415) 614-5505 saucedoe@sfarch.org
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT ABUSE
Anyone who has reason to believe or suspect that a child has been, or is being, abused should report their suspicions first to civil authorities and then to the Archdiocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator (415) 614-5506. Investigation should be left to duly appointed professionals. State law requires persons in certain positions (called “mandated reporters”) to make such reports. Others, (called “ethical reporters”) should make a report. Allegations will be treated seriously and immediate steps taken to protect the alleged victim(s). These actions will be taken discreetly so as to protect the confidentiality and the rights of both the alleged victim and the accused.
REPORTING INSTRUCTION BY COUNTY
Cases of alleged abuse in which the abuser and the victim are members of the same household are to be reported to Child Protective Services (CPS), while cases in which the alleged victim and the accused do not share a household should be reported to law enforcement authorities (Sheriff ’s Department or City Police). If in doubt, just report to the most convenient agency. They’ll help ensure the message gets to the proper place.
Archdiocese Victim Assistance Coordinator, Dr. Renee Duffey at duffeyr@sfarchdiocese.org or 415 6145506 MARIN: Child Protective Services, (415) 499-7153 Sheriff ’s Department, (415) 479-2311
SAN FRANCISCO: Child Protective Services, (415) 558-2650 Police Department, (415) 553-0123
SAN MATEO: Child Protective Services, (650) 802-7922 Sheriff ’s Department, (650) 363-4911