Diocese of
Orlando, Florida
The Diocese of Orlando (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1968 and encompasses nine counties in central Florida, consists of 83 parishes and missions, 36 elementary and secondary schools, a population of 352,000 registered Catholics, 258 diocesan priests, and 138 deacons. The Most Reverend Norbert M. Dorsey, installed as bishop in 1990, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of September 29–October 2, 2003.

The information presented below represents conditions as they were found during the week of the audit.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has had a policy on the prevention of sexual abuse of minors since 1986, and this policy provides for an outreach program designed to provide immediate pastoral care to victims/survivors and their families. A Commendation was written regarding the bishop’s proactive and forward-thinking approach to the crisis in 1995. The Diocese does have a victim assistance coordinator, Sr. Lucy Vazquez, the chancellor, and she has received significant training in dealing with victims/survivors of sexual abuse. A lay review board, the response team, was established in 1995 and consists of one priest and five respected members of the community, including a law enforcement representative, a victim/survivor, and a certified counselor. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed and electronic form. The Diocese has entered into no confidentiality agreements since June 2002, unless requested by the victim/survivor.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has had contact with local civil authorities regarding sexual abuse violations and in every incident has reported the allegation to and cooperated with the authorities. The Diocese has a procedure for advising victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy to civil authorities. The Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons. The Diocese has a communications policy, reflecting the bishop’s pledge to be open and transparent on issues regarding the sexual abuse of children.

To Ensure Accountability of Procedures
The Diocese has participated in the research study regarding the “nature and scope” of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.

To Protect the Faithful in the Future
The Diocese has developed its own safe environment training program, including the video Child Sexual Abuse and Prevention, for presentation to clergy and adults having regular contact with children; and the Diocese has a program for children, Talking About Touching. As mentioned above, the Diocese has publicized standards of conduct for priests and deacons, as well as diocesan employees, volunteers, and any other church personnel in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. The Diocese is completing background investigations on all members of the clergy and all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors; almost 40,000 had been completed at the time of the audit. The Diocese has not transferred any priests or deacons who have had credible allegations of sexual abuse lodged against them to any other diocese for ministerial assignment or residence since June 2002. The bishop and major superiors of orders having a presence in the Diocese have coordinated their respective roles regarding issues of allegations of sexual abuse made against a cleric member of a religious institute. The Diocese has not had an opportunity to cooperate with other churches, religious bodies, and institutions of learning in conducting research in the area of sexual abuse of minors, but it has assisted other dioceses in developing their own sexual abuse policies. The Diocese has established screening and evaluative techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination. The Diocese has a systematic, ongoing formation program in keeping with the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (2001).¹

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Orlando was found to be compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 in Section I. One Commendation was issued.

COMMENDATION—For the bishop’s proactive and forward-thinking approach to the current crisis regarding the sexual abuse of minors in establishing a widely publicized sexual abuse prevention policy in 1995 that needed little revision in 2002.

Note

1. USCCB, Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2001).

The compliance audit measured activity that has occurred since the adoption of the Charter in June 2002 with the exception of certain mandated actions found in Articles 5 and 14. Actions taken by the diocese/eparchy prior to June 2002 to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests and deacons are not included in this summary report.




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Office of Child and Youth Protection
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194
(202) 541-5413 | FAX: (202) 541-5410
Email: ocyp@usccb.org