Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is a comprehensive set of procedures originally established by the USCCB in June 2002 for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. It was revised in 2005, 2011, and 2018. Spanish Translation of Charter:  Estatuto para la protección de niños y jóvenes

The Charter directs action in all the following matters:

  • Creating a safe environment for children and young people;
  • Healing and reconciliation of victims and survivors;
  • Making prompt and effective response to allegations;
  • Cooperating with civil authorities;
  • Disciplining offenders;
  • Providing for means of accountability for the future to ensure the problem continues to be effectively dealt with through the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection and the National Review Board.

A Statement of Episcopal Commitment and the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons are in the same booklet as the Charter but are not part of the Charter itself.

Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

In Dallas, 2002, at their Annual Meeting, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops drafted a landmark document in response to the crisis of sexual abuse of children in the Church. This document, setting forth their agreed upon responsibilities in combating the problem, is entitled the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. 

The Charter is a comprehensive set of procedures originally to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The Charter mandates the creation of a permanent USCCB Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People, the National Review Board, and the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection. The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. It was revised in 2005, 2011, and 2018.  

View full text of the Charter here

Additional Founding Documentation

  • General
General

The pdf below contains the three documents which were enacted by the U.S. bishops in June 2018 at their Plenary Assembly in response to Pope Francis's motu proprio, Vos Estis Lux Mundi:

  • Affirming our Episcopal Commitments
  • Protocol Regarding Available Non-Penal Restrictions on Bishops
  • Directives for the Implementation of the Provisions of Vos estis lux mundi Concerning Bishops and their Equivalents

Download all 2018 documents here