Diocese has policy to protect children

FLORENCE (SC)
Morning News

April 7, 2019

On March 29, the Catholic Diocese of Charleston released its list of priests with credible allegations of sexual misconduct or abuse of minors. Now, I would like to address what the diocese has been doing for 25 years to protect children.

The diocese has had a policy on how to address allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against children by church personnel since 1994. We were one of the first dioceses in the country to have such a policy. That policy was updated in 2003, after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued its original Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and its Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons (revised in 2011 and most recently in 2018). We updated our policy again in 2012.

According to our policy, when the diocese receives an allegation, we direct the claimant to report to civil authorities immediately and then we, too, make a report to law enforcement. We offer access to pastoral resources, including a counseling referral, via our victim assistance coordinator.

When a priest, deacon, religious or layperson is accused of sexual misconduct against a minor, he/she is immediately placed on temporary administrative leave. If the accused is a priest, he cannot function as a priest. An investigation commences by law enforcement authorities, and to the extent it can be done without violating the prohibition against interfering with a law enforcement investigation, an independent investigator is engaged by the diocese.

After the investigation is completed, the case goes before the independent Sexual Abuse Advisory Board. The Board makes a recommendation to me as to the credibility of the allegation. If the allegation is deemed not credible, the religious or lay person can return to ministry. If the allegation is deemed credible, I will move to permanently remove the person from his/her ministry/position and apply any additional sanctions I deem appropriate.

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