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INSIDE USCCB releases annual report on Child and Youth TheVol. LV, No. 4 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPEMir GIRARDEAU, MISSOURIr rJune 14, 2019 Protection, p. 2 One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus US bishops authorize reporting Catholic School Spotlight: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pp. 6-7 mechanism for episcopal abuse cases By Matt Hadro Baltimore, MD he US bishops voted overwhelm- ingly this week to authorize a national third-party system for victims confidentially to report Tcases of abuse by bishops in violation of Vos estis lux mundi. “I think it’s obvious to me, and hopefully, I think, to all of us, that The Catechism victim-survivors are a priority to all of us,” said Abp. Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, in brief Vice President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), during delib- erations June 12 on the reporting system at the bishops’ Spring General Assembly Life in Christ: The in Baltimore, MD. Ninth Commandment “When that situation happens,” he 2531 said to the bishops of cases of reported Purity of heart will enable abuse, “I think that every single one of us us to see God: it enables is going to be very attentive to the needs US BISHOPS MEET IN BALTIMORE—The US Conference of Catholic Bishops as- us even now to see things and healing process of victim-survivors. sembled in Baltimore June 10-14. (Catholic News Agency) according to God. So I think this system will help us to pre- cisely make sure that anyone who suffers the bishops also voted to authorize up- At a press conference shortly after abuse is going to be taken care of.” dates to the proposed reporting system the discussion, Bp. Michael Burbidge The bishops met for the second day to comply with the new document. The of Arlington acknowledged that the of their annual spring meeting Wednes- updates are set to be approved by the reporting system needs to be widely day, during which they voted to autho- administrative committee in meetings publicized, saying, “it’s our job to make it rize the third-party reporting system, in this fall. well-known.” addition to approving a set of proposed For instance, as the document di- Among the other votes the bishops strategic priorities for their upcoming rected allegations of abuse by bishops to took June 12 were expressing unanimous 2021-24 Strategic Plan. be sent to metropolitans, any confidential support for the cause for canonization The priorities, the fruit of consulta- reporting system would need to reflect of Irving C. Houle, a father of five from tions with the body of bishops, five of this by routing allegations to the regional Michigan who appeared to bear the their standing committees, and their metropolitan, not just to the apostolic stigmata. Bishop John Francis Doerfler National Advisory Committee, help de- nuncio, thus requiring a more complex of Marquette, who delivered the pre- termine where the bishops will choose to and expansive reporting system. The sentation on Houle’s sanctity, as well as focus the most time and resources in that violations to be considered would also be Archbishop Sample and Bishop Thomas time frame. those outlined in Vos estis, not those in Paprocki of Springfield in Illinois, attested The proposed priorities, which the US Bishops’ Code of Conduct. to Houle’s virtue. passed by a vote of 213 to 8, with four The bishops discussed other de- “Irving can serve as an example abstentions, were: “Evangelization: Form tails of the system, including advertis- of holiness for the ordinary guy,” Bp. a joyful band of missionary disciples”; ing the phone number and Website for Doerfler said. “The extraordinary gifts of “Life and dignity of the human person: confidential reporting, the procedure healing and the stigmata are further indi- Serve the common good as the leaven in for contacting civil authorities and the cations of how God chooses the humble a free society”; “Protect and heal God’s metropolitan, the role of the third-party and the lowly as his instruments.” children: Restore integrity, foster virtue”; vendor, care for victims, and jurisdiction Bishop Paprocki also revealed his “Vocations: Equip all Christ’s disciples for for considering an abuse allegation. intention to establish a shrine to Fr. mission.” Additionally, the bishops voted to Augustus Tolton in Quincy, IL, where Fr. The reporting system that the bish- have the system activated by May 31, Tolton is buried. Pope Francis declared Fr. ops approved will feature options for vic- 2020. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago Tolton a Venerable June 12, an acknowl- tims to report abuse by phone or Online. emphasized the need for prompt action, edgement that he lived a life of heroic saying, “We need this up and running as virtue. The next issue of The Mirror Confidential reporting system soon as possible.” The bishops also overwhelmingly will be June 28, 2019. In September 2018, the bishops’ Archbishop Alexander Sample of approved a new translation of the Revised Experiencing delayed USPS Executive Committee proposed a third- Portland in Oregon said that in the in- National Directory for the Formation, delivery? Sign up to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email party reporting mechanism, but after the terim, people need to know that they can Ministry and Life of Permanaent Deacons in digital format: Contact Angie publication of Vos estis lux mundi, the still send allegations of abuse directly to in the United States, as well as the ICEL Toben at (417) 866-0841, or motu proprio of Pope Francis in response metropolitans. In Missouri, the Metropol- Gray Book of the Ordination of a Bishop, Email: [email protected]. to the recent crisis of clergy sexual abuse, itan See is the Archdiocese of St. Louis. of Priests, and of Deacons. ©CNA 2 The Mirror NATIONAL NEWS June 14, 2019 2018 annual report on the protection of children and young people Washington New resource highlights steps to he US Conference of Catho- lic Bishops’ Secretariat of confront clergy sex abuse Child and Youth Protection This Website reinforces the has released its 2018 Annual importance of prevention, pro- TReport—“Findings and Recommenda- tection, and accountability in tions on the Implementation of the response to the ongoing work Charter for the Protection of Children to eradicate clergy sexual abuse. and Young People.” Browse through the layers of The report is based on the the Holy Father’s Motu Proprio, audit findings of StoneBridge Busi- the 2002 Charter for the Protec- ness Partners, a specialty consulting tion of Children and Young firm headquartered in Rochester, NY, People and its progress, as well which provides forensic, internal, and as the new reforms discussed in compliance audit services to leading Baltimore. Learn more at organizations nation-wide, includ- ing the Diocese of Springfield-Cape usccbprevention.org Girardeau. A survey on allegations conduct- provided by CARA’s annual survey allegations were unsubstantiated as of eparchies and collected data from 122 ed by the Center for Applied Research shows that more than nine in 10 al- June 30, 2018. Three were categorized others. in the Apostolate (CARA) is also in- leged offenders (92 percent) identified as “unable to be proven” and inves- All dioceses/eparchies were cluded as part of the report. The 2018 during the survey year were deceased, tigations were still in process for six found compliant except for the report for audit year July 1, 2017— already removed from ministry, al- of the allegations as of June Diocese of Lincoln, who was June 30, 2018 states that 1,385 adults ready laicized, or missing. Most abuse 30, 2018. For the remaining found non-compliant with came forward with 1,455 allegations. reported occurred between 1960 and seven allegations involving Article 7 of the Charter. Compared to 2017, the number of 1990, with a peak in the 1970s. minors, two were referred to Three eparchies did not allegations has increased significantly Twenty-six new allegations in- a religious order, two were Most abuse participate including the due to the additional allegations re- volving current minors were reported reported as unknown clerics, reported Eparchy of St. Mary Queen ceived in five New York State dioceses during the audit period. As of June and three were not claims occurred of Peace, the Eparchy of St. as a result of the implementation of 30, 2018, three were substantiated of sexual abuse, but were Peter the Apostle, and the their Independent Reconciliation and and the clergy were removed from boundary violations. between Eparchy of Phoenix. Compensation programs. ministry. These allegations came During the audit period, 1960 and The Committee on the Additional data on allegations from three different dioceses. Seven dioceses and eparchies pro- 1990, with Protection of Children and vided outreach and support Young People continues to to 472 victims/survivors and a peak in emphasize that the audit and their families who reported the 1970s. maintaining zero-tolerance US Bishops approve the revised passage during this audit period. policies are two important Continued support was pro- tools in the Church’s broader on the death penalty for the USCCA vided to 1,542 victims/survi- program of creating a culture vors and their families who of protection and healing Baltimore reported abuse in prior audit periods. that exceeds the requirements of the Support may include counseling, Charter. he US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) spiritual assistance, support groups, This is the 16th such report approved the revised passage on the death pen- and other social services. since 2002 when the US Conference alty for the US Catholic Catechism for Adults The report also notes the ongo- of Catholic Bishops approved the (USCCA).