2004 Audit Executive Summary:
Diocese of Camden, New Jersey
Bishop Joseph A. Galante
Audit Conducted August
30-September 3, 2004
Previous Audit Conducted August 4, 2003-August 6,
2003
The information found herein represents conditions as they were found
to exist during the week of 8/30 – 9/3/2004.
The diocese has a policy on the
prevention of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The diocese provides
outreach designed to offer pastoral care to victims/survivors and their
families. The bishop or his representative has met with, or offered to
meet with all victims/survivors who have reported allegations of abuse
since the last compliance audit. The bishop or his delegate has directed
outreach to all faith communities in which the sexual abuse occurred. The
diocese has a mechanism in place to respond promptly to any allegation
where there is reason to believe that sexual abuse of a minor
occurred.
The diocese has a victim assistance coordinator, Barbara
Ann Gondek, who is a licensed social worker. She holds a doctorate in
ministry to marriage and family, and a Masters degree in social work. The
diocese established a Review Board in 2002, which consists of nine (9)
members. The members include a former New Jersey Superior Court appellate
judge; a deputy director of a county board of social services; a
psychologist; a civil attorney; a member of a Baptist church who is
associated with an inter-faith caregivers group; two (2) religious women
one of whom is a school principal and the other a former director of a
Catholic Charities office, a parish pastor; and a diocesan tribunal
member. The Board serves as a confidential consultative body to the
bishop.
The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily
available in printed form, and are the subject of periodic public
announcements. The diocese has not entered into any confidentiality
agreement during the audit period.
The diocese reported all allegations of
sexual abuse of a minor to public authorities since the last compliance
audit. The diocese complies with all applicable civil laws with respect to
the reporting of allegations of sexual abuse of minors to civil
authorities. The diocese has established effective liaison with civil
authorities, ensuring that an open dialogue regarding sexual abuse
allegations will occur. The diocese cooperates with public authorities
about reporting in cases when the person is no longer a minor. In all
instances, the diocese advises victims/survivors of their right to report
allegations of abuse by a member of the clergy to civil
authorities.
When an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a
priest or deacon is received, a preliminary investigation, in harmony with
canon law, is initiated. If a preliminary investigation so indicates, the
diocese notifies the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and applies
the precautionary measures mentioned in CIC, canon 1722, or CCEO, canon
1473. When accusations against a priest or a deacon are proven to be
unfounded, the diocese takes steps to restore the good name of the priest
or deacon.
When sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or a deacon is
admitted or established after an appropriate process in accord with canon
law, the diocesan policies provide that the offending priest or deacon be
permanently removed from ministry. The diocese offers professional
assistance to offending priests or deacons.
In every case
involving canonical penalties, the processes provided for in canon law are
observed. Accused clergy are encouraged to retain the assistance of civil
and canonical counsel. When necessary, the diocese supplies canonical
counsel to a priest or deacon.
If the penalty of dismissal from
the clerical state has not been applied, the diocese directs the offender
to lead a life of prayer and penance. The diocese does not allow the
offender to celebrate Mass publicly, to administer the sacraments, or to
present himself publicly as a priest.
The diocese has established
clear and well-publicized standards of ministerial behavior for priests
and deacons. A communications policy is in effect which reflects the
bishop's pledge to be open and transparent on issues regarding the sexual
abuse of children. The diocese does assist and support all parish
communities directly affected by ministerial misconduct involving minors.
The diocese has fully
implemented a "safe environment" education program. The educational
program for children is Child Assault Prevention (CAP); the educational
program for parents is CAP; the educational program for ministers is CAP;
the educational program for educators is CAP; and the educational program
for others is CAP. The diocese has clear and well publicized standards of
conduct for persons in positions of trust with regard to sexual abuse. The
diocese conducts background evaluations for all diocesan and parish
personnel who have regular contact with minors, using appropriate law
enforcement resources where permissible. The diocese employs adequate
screening and evaluative techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates
for ordination.
The diocese has not transferred any priest or
deacon who has had a credible allegation of sexual abuse made against him
to another ministerial assignment since the last audit. The diocese has
not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of
sexual abuse made against him to another diocese for residence since the
last audit.
The bishop, or his designee, has coordinated with
major superiors of men with a presence in the diocese concerning
addressing the issue of allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy.
The diocese has participated in research with other institutions in the
area of sexual abuse. The diocese has developed a systematic ongoing
formation program in keeping with the Basic Plan for the Ongoing
Formation of Priests.
At the conclusion
of this compliance audit, the diocese was found to be compliant with all
articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young
People.
Toll-free 800 number
In order that allegations are
responded to and reported when there is reason to believe sexual abuse has
occurred, a special toll-free 800 number (1-800-964-6588), which is
currently connected to the diocese’s Victims Assistance Coordinator, was
established by the diocese in April 2002. All allegations received through
the 800 number—no matter how long ago the abuse is alleged to have taken
place or how long past the statute of limitations, and regardless of
whether the perpetrator is deceased—are reported to the local county
prosecutor and to the diocese. The 800 number was also established to
ensure that assistance requests can be made easily to the diocese’s
Victims Assistance Coordinator.
Memorandum of
Understanding
The landmark “Memorandum of Understanding”
between the New Jersey dioceses and county prosecutors codifies the
long-standing practice of the diocese to cooperate with law enforcement
and provides an additional way to facilitate the reporting to authorities
of any sexual assault of minors with the telephone numbers of the liaison
being widely disseminated.
The diocese goes beyond the
Charter requirement that dioceses will “cooperate” with public
authorities about reporting in cases when the person is no longer a minor
in that it reports all allegations of abuse to public authorities, whether
the person bringing the complaint is a minor or now an adult, no matter
how long ago the abuse is alleged to have occurred, and whether or not the
accused is living or deceased.
Clinical Advisory
Panel
In addition to the Charter requirement that there
be an experienced Victim Assistance Coordinator, the diocese has a
Clinical Advisory Panel, which consists of experienced professionals not
affiliated with the diocese, to conduct quarterly reviews with the Victim
Assistance Coordinator of whatever assistance is being provided to those
who have been victimized. This is done in order to ensure that the level
and quality of care being provided to the victim through the Victim
Assistance Coordinator meets the victim’s needs. The Clinical Advisory
Panel, which includes a victim of sexual abuse, consists of: Robert
Crawford, Ed.D., M.S., Nancy Rocereto, ACSW, and Julie Ann Lipman, Psy.D.,
of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey.
Support Group
The Charter requires
that support groups for victim should be “fostered and encouraged” in
every diocese and in local parish communities. The Diocese of Camden has
gone beyond this by instituting and sponsoring a weekly support group for
victims of clergy sexual abuse, facilitated by an independent, licensed
clinical social worker. This was done in specific response to a victim of
abuse who asked the Bishop that such a group be formed. After the Victim
Assistance Coordinator consulted with the Center for Children’s Support at
the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ—the state
university of the health sciences and the nation's largest institution of
its kind) to locate an expert in the area of sexual abuse, the diocese
contracted with Steven Carroll, L.C.S.W to facilitate the support
group.
Victim Survey
In Spring 2004, the Victim
Assistance Coordinator sent a confidential, written survey (see file 1-2)
to victims receiving assistance from the diocese to ascertain their
feedback on the assistance being provided and assess whether it is
responding to their needs. Thirty one surveys were sent to victims and ten
were returned. This was done in an effort to improve the diocese’s already
strong program of outreach. The questions asked of victims:
1) What diocesan-related services have you received
from the Diocese of Camden with regard to the sexual abuse you
experienced? 2) Have these services been beneficial to you?
How? If not, what would improve them? 3) What prompted you to make the
initial call to the Diocese? What was your reaction to that first
experience? 4) Have you met with the bishop or the apostolic
administrator? If yes, was the meeting helpful in terms of your
healing and recovery? If not, was a meeting offered? 5) Have your
phone calls been responded to in a timely manner? 6) What has been
helpful to you in your recovery? What has been a hindrance? 7)
What areas could be improved? 8) Are you aware of a confidential support
group for victims of clergy sexual abuse which meets weekly in
Haddonfield and is facilitated by a licensed clinical social
worker? If you have attended any sessions of the support group
were they helpful? Why or why not? 9) Has your therapeutic
experience been helpful to you? Why or why not?
Additional
outreach to victimsIn addition to the outreach provided to
victims, as well as their families, the diocese has provided counseling to
those who reside in the diocese but who were abused by priests in other
dioceses or in Catholic institutions outside the diocese.
Web
SiteAs part of its policy of open communication with the
public and to ensure that its policies, procedures and expectations with
regard to sexual abuse of minors are widely disseminated, the diocese has
developed and featured prominently (it is the first button on the
diocese’s home page) a comprehensive site structured around the major
articles of the
Charter for the Protection of Children & Young
People and explains how the diocese is fulfilling the mandates of the
Charter. Significantly, it includes contact information and links to each
county prosecutor and the local offices of the New Jersey Division of
Youth and Family Services. The site includes the following key
sections:
Accountability of Procedures: Text and reports
related to the John Jay and National Review Board Reports and 2003 Gavin
Audit Report, with links to the national Office of Youth Protection and
National Review Board.
Standards for the Protection of
Children & Young People: Complete text of the Charter for the
Protection of Children & Young People (English & Spanish),
Norms, New Jersey Provincial Policy, Memorandum of Understanding (and
accompanying Commentary), Revised Guidelines of the Diocese of Camden,
Recommendations of the Borden Committee, Statewide Policy on Criminal
History Background Checks, Guidelines for the Conduct of Spiritual
Directors and Counselors (English and Spanish), and Policy on Sexual
Harassment.
Report Sexual Abuse: Describes the toll-free
800 number established by the diocese to facilitate the reporting of
abuse allegations and to assist victims in arranging for support
services. It also includes contact information for county prosecutors
and for the local offices of the Division of Youth and Family
Services.
The Diocesan Response: A chronological listing
of significant events in the Church’s response to sexual abuse of minors
with links to key documents and support materials.
Victim
Assistance: Information about and services provided by the Victim
Assistance Coordinator, the Clinical Advisory Panel, the Support Group
sponsored by the diocese for victims and the diocese’s program of
Pastoral Outreach.
Prevention: Description of the
diocese’s program of preventive training, including its code of conduct,
policy on sexual harassment and background
checks.
Special Editions of the Diocesan
newspaperAs part of its policy of open communication with the
public and to ensure that its policies, procedures and expectations with
regard to sexual abuse of minors are widely disseminated, the diocese
mailed to every registered parishioner in the diocese two special editions
of the diocesan newspaper, the
Catholic Star Herald, which were
devoted to the matter of sexual abuse of minors (the issues dated
September 12, 2003 and February 27, 2004). These mailings reached over
130,000 households—
100,000 more than the newspaper’s regular 30,000
circulation—and were follow-ups to a special issue that was sent to
all households in May 2002.
The 48-page September 12, 2003 issue
(“Protecting Children & Young People”) featured the
full texts
of the Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People (along
with an article by article review of the measures taken by the diocese to
fulfill the mandates of the Charter), Essential Norms, the New Jersey
Provincial Policy in Response to Complaints of Sexual Abuse, Memorandum of
Understanding and accompanying Commentary, Revised Guidelines of the
Diocese of Camden for Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse, Policy on
Criminal History Background Checks, Code of Conduct (“Guidelines of the
Diocese of Camden for the Conduct of Spiritual Directors and Counselors”)
and the diocese’s Continuing Education and Spiritual Formation program for
priests.
In addition, the issue contained articles about the Office
of Child and Youth Protection, the 2003 audits, a Q&A about the
Charter and dioceses’ responsibilities under the Charter, an article about
the Victim Assistance Coordinator and contact information on how to reach
her, an article about the Support Group and how to attend, an interview
with a victim of abuse, an article about the 800 number, a timeline
summary of the abuse crisis with major milestones highlighted, an article
about the diocese’s safe environment training, an article about the
diocese’s Clinical Advisory Panel, and the text of Bishop Gregory’s letter
on priestly celibacy.
This issue was awarded first place among
weekly publications in the Philadelphia/New Jersey region by the
Philadelphia Press Association for public service to the
community.
The February 27, 2004 issue, also mailed to every
registered household in the diocese, contained data from the diocese
related to the John Jay survey, including the number of priests accused
(and the status of those priests), the number of victims, the amount paid
by the diocese to settle legal claims, and the amount paid to victims for
counseling, vocational training, group therapy sessions and other
assistance. It also included an updated review of the diocese’s efforts to
fulfill the requirements of the
Charter and an update on the safe
environment training sessions held in Spring 2004.
Fingerprint
Criminal History Background ChecksRealizing that the best way
to obtain accurate criminal histories is through the use of
fingerprints, the diocese requires that a criminal history
background check based on fingerprints processed through the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New Jersey State Bureau of
Investigation (SBI) be performed on employees who have regular contact
with minors, including clergy. In addition, the diocese requires that
all clergy (priests and deacons) receive the fingerprint background
check, not only those who have regular contact with minors.