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  Pittsburgh Diocese Taking Proactive Approach As Catholic Scandal Grows

WTAE
March 27, 2010

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/health/22969962/detail.html

[with video] http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/health/22969962/detail.html

PITTSBURGH -- As a swirling global sex abuse scandal inches closer to Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh said it's already taken proactive steps to prevent any further problems.

"The problem with abuse, sexual abuse with minors is a national problem. It's a national epidemic," said Ronald Regan, of the Pittsburgh diocese.

Archbishop Donald Wuerl initiated a zero-tolerance policy while serving as bishop in Pittsburgh in the 1990s that called for the immediate removal of any priest caught in allegations.

The move followed the conviction of two priests involved with boys in Allegheny and Fayette counties in the late 1980s.

Since then, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops created the National Charter for Protecting Children and Young People.

"A specific program that would screen people who have contact with children and also educate adults about how to recognize child abuse," said Regan.

In Pittsburgh, everyone must submit to a state police criminal background check, go through state welfare child abuse clearances, sign a pastoral code of conduct and attend a three-hour course on protecting God's children.

"It's been a long time coming. I think that they have minimized what was going on and it's the one thing that was keeping me from coming to church at times," said Coraopolis resident Denise Derova.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops also mandates that every diocese is audited, which is carried out by retired FBI agents known as the "Gavin Group."

 
 

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