U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Releases 2016 Annual Report on the Protection of Children and Young People

Washington—TheU.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for the Protection of Childrenand Young People has released their 2016 Annual Report – Findings andRecommendations on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection ofChildren and Young People.

The2016 report for audit year July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016, states that 1,232adults that came forward with 1,318 allegations. This increase is focusedwithin six dioceses: two dioceses with bankruptcy proceedings and four wherethe state extended the statute of limitations. These six dioceses received anadditional 351 allegations compared to the 2015 audit year. Also, it notes that1,510 victim/survivors received ongoing support.

Alsonoted in the report is the ongoing work of the Church in continuing to ensurethe safety of children and vulnerable adults.  In 2016, over 2.4 million background checks wereconducted on our clerics, employees, and volunteers. Over 2.3 million adults and 4.2 millionchildren have also been trained on how to identify the warning signs of abuseand how to report those signs.

Alldioceses and eparchies that received an allegation of sexual abuse during the2016 audit year reported them to the appropriate civil authorities.

Twenty-fivenew allegations came from minors. As of June 30, 2016, two were substantiated,eight were still under investigation, and eleven were unsubstantiated or unableto be proven. Of the remaining four, two were referred to a religious order,one was referred to another diocese, and one investigation was postponed due toan order of confidentiality from the bankruptcy court.

RegardingCharter Compliance, the reported noted the following:

·        Twoeparchies did not participate in the audit this year, but have expressed theirintention to participate in next year's audit.

·        191dioceses and eparchies were found compliant with the Charter.

·        Alldioceses/eparchies participating in the 129 data collection audits were foundcompliant with the process.

·        Ofthe sixty-five dioceses/eparchies participating in the on-site audits, all werefound compliant except for two dioceses and one eparchy.

·        Onediocese was found non-compliant with respect to Article 2 and one diocese withrespect to Article 3. One eparchy was found non-compliant with respect toArticles 2 and 12.

TheCommittee for the Protection of Children and Young People continues toemphasize that the audit and maintaining zero-tolerance policies are twoimportant tools in the Church's broader program of creating a culture ofprotection and healing that exceeds the requirements of the Charter.

Thisis the fourteenth such report since 2002 when the U.S. Conference of CatholicBishops approved the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young Peoplemaking a promise to protect and a pledge to heal. 

Thefull Annual Report can be found here: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/upload/2016-Annual-Report.pdf

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Keywords:U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Committee on the Protection ofChildren and Young People, 2016 Annual Report – Findings and Recommendations,children, young people, vulnerable adults, dioceses/eparchies, sexual abuse,religious orders, Charter compliance, Charter for the Protection of Childrenand Young People, safety, protection, healing. 

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