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Column: A look at an archdiocese altering the way it addresses sexual abuse allegations
Posted: Friday, February 7, 2014
By ELIZABETH EISENSTADT-EVANS | Correspondent
I’ve been writing about sexual abuse among Christians for longer than I care to admit. But I don’t often write about a religious institution’s journey as it moves to reform the way it assesses allegations, holds proven perpetrators accountable and reaches out to help abuse victims.
First, an important caveat (and a point that sadly often gets lost in the turmoil about clergy sex abuse): Aberrant behavior that harms children and young adults isn’t only a problem for faith communities. The National Sexual Violence Center terms it “pervasive” and an “epidemic,” with one in four girls and one in six boys becoming sexual abuse victims (though the organization also says that the rate is declining).
According to statistics compiled by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, more than one-third of sexual assaults are by family members, close to 60 percent by acquaintances.
But that doesn’t excuse members of ecclesiastical hierarchies from taking responsibilities for the wrongs committed in the name of God. Part of the reason that abuse, frankly, draws more attention (or, paradoxically, is not revealed by the victim so that he or she may get help) is the sheer horror of a crime perpetrated by someone believed to be trustworthy, even sanctified. …
This past decade, however, has seen many dioceses in the United States make substantive changes to the process by which they handle abuse allegations.
Due in part to the impact of two grand jury reports, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been a laboratory for concrete change as it sought to follow the directives developed in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
The second grand jury report, alleging that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia had left abusive clergy in active ministry, also resulted in criminal charges against three priests and one lay teacher. In addition: “The report recommended that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia overhaul its procedures for assisting victims and for removing from ministry priests accused of molesting minors. The grand jury encouraged victims to report their abuse first to law enforcement.”
What has happened since the second grand jury report in 2011?
As part of its response to the scathing critiques leveled in that document, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia hired two district attorney’s office veterans. Now director of the archdiocesan Office for Child and Youth Protection, Leslie Davila previously served in the DA’s office of victim services. Al Toczydlowski, a former prosecutor from the DA’s office, was tapped to head the new Office of Investigations.
In extending its background check requirements to include anyone, lay or ordained, working with children in a parish or a school, the archdiocese has met and exceeded the state requirements, Davila says.
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