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	Carlson Defends Church's Procedures after Philadelphia Revelations St. Louis Post-Dispatch April 2, 2011 http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_9b1a8b7c-b9ae-5168-a40b-f3a2bfdf6677.html ST. LOUIS • In the wake of recent charges and a scathing grand jury report lambasting the way the Archdiocese of Philadelphia handles allegations of child sexual abuse, St. Louis' leading Catholic is standing by church procedures in the region. "We believe our process is effective," St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson told the Post-Dispatch in an email Friday. The events in Philadelphia have led the archdiocese there — directed by Cardinal Justin Rigali, a former archbishop of St. Louis — to give an independent investigator unfettered access to priest files. A leading victims rights group expressed hope that revelations in Philadelphia would motivate all bishops to question how abuse is being reported. Carlson said Friday that the system to handle complaints in St. Louis is always being reviewed. He reaffirmed the effectiveness of procedures already on the books. That system includes a review board, cooperating with law enforcement when requested, making hot line reports involving minors available to the Missouri Division of Family Services, and reminding adults of their right to contact law enforcement. "We are always reviewing our process based on feedback from the review board, victims, and others," Carlson wrote in the email. "The recent events remind us about the seriousness of what we do, the compassion that is needed to help victims with healing, and to continue to be vigilant." In February, a grand jury in Philadelphia reported that as many as 37 priests with credible allegations of child sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior were still active in ministry. Rigali initially dismissed the claim. But a few days later, he said, "As much as the archdiocese has done to address child sexual abuse, there is still much to do." Five church figures were indicted, including an administrative priest charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly shuffling abusive clergy between parishes. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has since called on a former prosecutor, who previously handled child sexual assault cases, to review priest files. Based on her independent inquiry, at least 23 priests have been put on administrative leave, including two more on Thursday. In addition, the investigator, who is Catholic, cleared eight priests who had been accused of misconduct. When Carlson was asked by the Post-Dispatch whether he would call for a similar independent inquiry as a matter of transparency, he did not provide a direct response, instead choosing to restate current procedures. Carlson assured that "any archdiocesan priest who has had a credible allegation made against him is no longer serving in public ministry" and that he is "committed to the protection of children and young people." Interviewed in 2009, as Carlson prepared to head the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which covers the city and 10 counties, he said that when he arrived in Saginaw, Mich., in 2005 to serve as bishop there, he went through the file of every priest. He said he would do the same in St. Louis. On Friday, Carlson wrote that he has reviewed all the allegations involving priests permitted to minister, but he stopped short of saying he reviewed all the files. "My review is ongoing and if new information is reported, I will immediately evaluate that information in accordance to our policies, and I will take appropriate action," he wrote. David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said he believes that credibly accused priests remain in ministry in the St. Louis area. "It's sad that (Carlson) claims the process here is fine when in fact the Philadelphia revelations should prompt every bishop to reassess his practices on abuse," he said.
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