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  2006 Report Issued on Child Abuse in the Archdiocese

Catholic Telegraph [Cincinnati OH]
April 20, 2007

http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/tct/apr2007/042007abuse.html

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati continues to act on accusations of child sexual abuse by priests as they are received. In 2006, two new allegations of sexual abuse of a minor were made against two priests of the archdiocese.

Of the two priests, one was already suspended from active ministry pending final disposition of his case, and the second was placed on administrative leave. His case is also in process

With regard to the non-compliance determination made by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, all priests, deacons, seminarians, employees and educators have been trained. However, there are still 3,047 volunteers in parishes, schools and institutions of the archdiocese for whom it cannot be established that the required training has been received. All have undergone background checks and none are permitted to work with children until the training is complete.

Since this policy has been in place since 1993, it is possible that some of the 3,047 persons have indeed been trained, but this cannot be confirmed with school, parish or institution records.

If it cannot be established that these persons have been trained, they will have to go through the training again before the archdiocese is found to be in compliance.

The archdiocese spent about an estimated $1,274,000 in 2006 on expenses related to child abuse by priests. As with earlier such expenditures, the money came from general untargeted revenues available, not from the parish weekly collection basket, not from the Archdiocesan Annual Fund Drive, and not from any other designated collection. Approximately $400,000 was spent in 2006 on child protection efforts such as training and criminal background checks.

Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk urges anyone who was abused as a child by a priest or any other representative of the archdiocese, or knows someone who was, to report the abuse immediately to the secular legal authorities and to the Victim Assistance Coordinator of the Archdiocese, Sister Mary Garke, at (513-) 421-3131 or 1 (800-) 686-2724.

In addition, the Catholic Conference of Ohio has established a fund to provide counseling assistance for persons who were sexually abused as minors by clergy or other representatives of the Catholic Church but are reluctant to contact the church for help. Information about the fund and claims forms are available at www.counselingassistancefund.org/

The archdiocese continues to work to be in compliance, reminding pastors and administrators of the requirements of the Decree on Child Protection. In addition to training sessions at parishes, schools and institutions, the archdiocese conducts one session each month at noon at its downtown Cincinnati offices.

 
 

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