Diocese's Child Sex Abuse Review Board Reports ‘progress

By Dave Sutor
Tribune Democrat
November 29, 2018

https://www.tribdem.com/news/diocese-s-child-sex-abuse-review-board-reports-progress/article_74e6019a-f38a-11e8-a431-8763cc401bc9.html


A review board that was established to monitor and evaluate steps taken by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown to address child sexual abuse allegations if they arise determined the organization “has made significant and measurable progress towards developing a comprehensive program,” but noted that making sure “full implementation and enforcement of the policies and procedures” occurs is crucial going forward.

The Independent Oversight Board for Youth Protection of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown issued its first annual report on Wednesday, following examination of work done since the diocese entered a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania in 2017.

The memorandum was adopted after the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General released a grand jury report in 2016, providing information about how the diocese allegedly carried out a decades-long coverup to protect predator priests, under the oversight of former Bishops Joseph Adamec and James Hogan.

Among its many points, the MOU called for overhauling the diocese’s internal review board, tightening existing reporting protocol for abuse allegations, reviewing computer and internet usage by diocesan personnel, and providing victims with independent mental health counseling.

One of the biggest steps has been the creation of the Office of Children and Youth Protection, which is responsible for implementing and overseeing diocesan policy related to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

“Some really unfortunate things went on at the diocese over some period of time,” said James Brown, the board’s chairman and former chief of staff to both U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and Gov. Bob Casey, Sr. “But our job was to step in and look at the reforms that were required and they wanted to make and make sure that they were happening.

"My take on it is that the diocese has made really significant progress on almost all of the items that were listed there, in the sense that they’re putting policies in place, the documentation of things, the new hires, the use of experts. I think all of those are important. But the flip side of this is that the diocese now has to enforce. I think they have to work on changing the culture.”

The board also included former Pennsylvania State Police criminal investigator Walter Carlson, associate professor and assistant dean of the National Catholic School of Social Service at The Catholic University of America Eileen Dombo, formative spirituality counselor Mary Herwig and former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Jerry Johnson.

Members issued additional recommendations, including establishing parish-level safety teams, promoting the child sex abuse hotline, implementing follow-up procedures for referrals to law enforcement and strengthening a cultural of child protection.

“Bishop (Mark) Bartchak is grateful to the members of the Independent Oversight Board for their work and commitment,” Tony DeGol, the diocese’s secretary for communications, said.

“He appreciates the Board’s recommendations, which, among other things, stress the critical need for a true culture of children and youth protection. That culture is a work in progress, and requires everyone – clergy and lay people – to dedicate themselves to this important endeavor. As we continue to build that culture, the faithful can be assured of the Bishop’s continued focus on this work – especially offering support to the victims and survivors of sexual abuse.”

The steps are being implemented to deal with abuse allegations going forward after the attorney general’s report alleged at least 50 religious leaders abused children.

“I think it’s good that, as a result of the guidance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, they’re taking positive steps, but we need to address also the hundreds of kids in this diocese alone that were molested,” said Richard Serbin, a lawyer who has represented dozens of abuse victims in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese.

Serbin would like the see Pennsylvania establish a limited-time window during which victims of past abuse could bring claims, even if the current statute of limitations has expired.

“What they need is the opportunity to seek justice, and that can only be achieved with the Pennsylvania Senate approving a window of justice for abuse survivors,” Serbin said.

“I applaud steps in the right direction to reduce other children from being abused, but we can’t ignore all the other adults who were children when they were abused, whose lives have been destroyed by this.”