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	Catholic Diocese Found in Compliance with Youth-Protection Program News-Leader August 23, 2007 http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070823/BREAKING01/70823052 Missouri — The Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has been found to meet the requirements of the church's Charter for Protection of Children and Young People, the diocese announced today. In July, representatives from The Gavin Group Inc. examined how the diocese is implementing the charter, passed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002 in response to clergy abuse revelations. Each diocese was required to present its own plan to implement the charter. In 2002, the Springfield diocese acknowledged three priests who had been removed from their duties because of sex abuse allegations, some dating back to the 1980s. A fourth priest in the diocese was removed in 2006 after allegations of sexual misconduct. The July audit was based on the completeness and accuracy of the information provided by the diocese. The examination covered three broad areas: • How the diocese is promoting healing and reconciliation; • How the diocese is guaranteeing effective response to allegations of abuse of a minor, and; • How the diocese is protecting the faithful in the future. After the examination, which is called a compliance audit, the examiners concluded: "Based on the analysis of the results of the 2007 Full Audit of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, you have been found to be in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has adopted the Virtus safe environment program. The program provides ongoing training for adults whose work, paid or volunteer, brings them in contact with children and young people. Additionally, the program provides lessons through which parents, teachers, catechists and youth ministers give children and young people the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them.
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