Diocese of
Providence, Rhode Island
The Diocese of Providence (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1872, encompasses the entire state of Rhode Island and serves a Catholic community of 640,000 parishioners in 157 parishes and eight missions. There are 191 active diocesan priests, 96 permanent deacons, 53 elementary schools, 12 high schools, and two colleges/universities. The Most Reverend Robert E. Mulvee, installed as bishop in June 1997, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit was conducted during June 23-27, 2003.

The following information describes conditions evident during the week of the audit. Information on corrective actions taken by the Diocese subsequent to the audit will be found in the last paragraph.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese was commended for initiating a progressive outreach policy in response to allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy in 1992, which contains many of the provisions of the 2002 policy and has been most recently revised in 2003 to conform to the Charter. The bishop was commended for his support of the settlement of 37 abuse cases and for subsequently meeting with the victims/survivors, individually and collectively. A Commendation was also issued for the bishop’s outreach to victims/survivors abused as minors by members of a religious order not directly covered by the Charter. Michael D. Hansen, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, is the coordinator of human formation and outreach. The Diocese was commended for the highly effective teamwork of Hansen and the director of the diocesan office of education and compliance, who is a retired state police lieutenant. A diverse, seven-member lay advisory board, which includes a rabbi and an Episcopal trainer, was established in July 2002 and is composed of persons highly qualified to consider allegations of abuse by clergy. Procedures for reporting sexual abuse allegations are readily available and periodically broadcast. There have been no confidentiality agreements entered into since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
All allegations received since June 2002 have been reported to civil authorities, and the Diocese has cooperated with subsequent investigations. Victims/survivors are advised of their right to report allegations of sexual abuse to civil authorities. A December 2002 draft agreement between the state attorney general’s office and the Diocese on reporting and cooperation protocols is awaiting final approval. The audit identified one sexual abuse case in need of review by the lay advisory board, and an Instruction was issued in that regard. Standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy and other church personnel who have regular contact with children exist. The bishop has consistently demonstrated his commitment to a communications policy of openness and transparency with all elements of the media. The bishop and his staff have visited parishes directly affected by clergy misconduct.

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
A comprehensive, child-centered safe environment program under the direction of Hanson is scheduled for implementation of the 2003-2004 school year. Effective background evaluations are also being conducted on all relevant groups having association with the Diocese. Established screening and evaluation regimes are employed to consider the fitness of candidates for ordination. No member of the clergy against whom a credible violation has been recorded has been transferred outside the Diocese either for ministerial or residency purposes. The bishop meets twice annually with major superiors, both men and women, as a group, and discussion includes effective responses to allegations of sexual abuse by clergy of a minor. The bishop’s progressive, inclusive lay advisory board is one manifestation of cooperation with other religious denominations. The Diocese employs multi-faceted approaches and platforms in its ongoing priestly and human formation programs.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Providence was issued one Instruction and four Commendations.

INSTRUCTION—The lay advisory board should review a recently received allegation of sexual abuse of a minor and provide the results of its review to the bishop.

COMMENDATION 1—For the bishop’s support of a settlement in 37 sexual abuse cases and for the pastoral outreach of meeting individually and collectively with the victims/survivors on the day of the settlement.

COMMENDATION 2—For initiating a progressive policy in response to allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy in 1992.

COMMENDATION 3—For diocesan outreach to victims/survivors of sexual abuse by members of a religious order not directly covered by the Charter.

COMMENDATION 4—For the establishment of a team of highly qualified professionals to respond to allegations of sexual abuse.

As of December 1, 2003, the Instruction had been addressed. The Diocese of Providence is found to be compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 in Section I.


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