Welcome
Audio Message from the Executive Director
2008 Annual Report
The Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection is a resource for dioceses/eparchies for implementing ‘safe environment’ programs and for suggesting training and development of diocesan personnel responsible for child and youth protection programs; taking into account the financial and other resources, as well as the population, and demographics of the diocese/eparchy. The Secretariat produces an annual public report—on the progress made in implementing and maintaining the standards in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People—following an annual audit process. The report is public and includes the names of dioceses/eparchies that the audit shows are not in compliance with the provisions and expectations of the Charter.
Message from the Secretariat
Tired of the Charter and its Requirements?
It is Time to Refocus!
As another audit year begins, ‘issue fatigue’ surfaces. Since the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was adopted in June 2002, bishops, dioceses and parishes have labored to meet its requirements. Their efforts have found success, yet people seem tired of hearing about clergy sexual abuse. Meanwhile, media reports suggest abuse is on-going and the Church has done nothing to stop it. In this climate, hopelessness and helpless can creep in; people may want to give up.
It is time to refocus and to remember why we do what we do. The primary goal is to protect children, to keep them safe in churches, schools and homes. Another goal is to heal the victims/survivors of clergy abuse.
The accomplishments in just a few years are ones for which the Church can feel proud.
Consider these facts:
- $7,907,123 has been spent on therapy for victim/survivors and their families.
- The US Church has trained more than 1.7 million clergy, educators, employees and volunteers in how to create safe environments and prevent child sexual abuse.
- The Church has equipped 5.7 million children with the skills to help protect themselves from abuse.
- The Church has conducted more than 1,500,000 background checks on volunteers and employees, 163, 705 on educators, 51,000 on clerics and 4,955 candidates for ordination.
The Charter has changed the culture of the Church forever. Making sure children are safe has become an integral part of everyday church life. The English-speaking Catholic Episcopal Conferences meet each year to review how each Conference handles clergy sexual abuse. The Church in the United States stands as a leader among that group. The impact of the U.S. church goes well beyond its borders.
There is much for which to be proud. Knowing that and focusing on the why of this work can revitalize efforts to continue to work to provide safe environments for children and to welcome the victims/survivors to the healing they deserve.