ADDITIONAL ACTIONS 2009 2 ADDITIONAL ACTIONS During the 2009 annual compliance audit as with previous audits, the arch/dioceses/eparchies were asked if they had any ―Additional Actions‖ for the protection of children which they would like to share with the auditors. The wording on the audit form is stated as follows: The following is submitted as reflective of this diocese‟s/eparchy‟s advancement in the implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Each example took place during the current audit period, and exceeds what is required by the Charter. (Describe the activity, providing as much detail as possible, to include the nature of the situation, what the diocese/eparchy has done, and how it has been received by the intended audience. The action must have occurred between the first day of the last compliance audit to the first day of the current compliance audit, and will be verified by the Auditors. Please limit your response to one or two paragraphs for each action.) What is reflected as an additional action is what the arch/diocese/eparchy provided to the auditors during their audit. These additional actions are a further continuation of the efforts by the arch/dioceses/eparchies to reach out to victims to help with their healing and reconciliation and to keep the promise to protect child. So we all can learn from one another, following is a listing by arch/diocese/eparchy of the additional actions submitted to the auditors in 2009. Diocese of Albany, New York 1. The Albany Diocese now requires all volunteers who are minors to read and sign the Youth Code of Conduct. Parents/ Guardians are required to co-sign this document as well. This Code of Conduct is available in English and Spanish on the diocesan website at www.rcda.org 2. In addition to requiring all seminarians to be background checked and receive Virtus training, the diocese emphasizes with seminarians the importance of maintaining a Safe Environment through other activities and training such as: a. In June 2009 at the retreat for seminarians, there was a detailed discussion concerning appropriate behavior in ministry. b. Several dinner time discussions are held throughout the year regarding maintaining appropriate verbal and non-verbal boundaries. c. The seminarians routinely discuss with the Vocations Director, pastoral situations they may face in the future. For e.g. they discuss appropriate touch when ministering to children, appropriate meeting places, protocol for counseling children pastorally etc. 3 Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania This year the Diocese, its parishes, schools and related entities, processed a background check through HireRight of all clergy, women religious, and employees. This background check represents a re-check of all of those done in 2004 plus anyone hired since that time, as we have been requiring a background check upon hire. The Diocese paid for all background checks processed from April 1, 2009 through May 31, 2009. In June 2009, we distributed an updated Diocese of Allentown Overview of Charter Initiatives to All Pastors, Principals, Administrators and Safe Environment Coordinators. The updates included changes that the commonwealth of Pennsylvania made to the Public School Code requiring Federal Criminal History Records for all new School Employees as of April 1, 2007. There were also new requirements for employees of school vendors and school contractors. We continue to audit our locations through on-site visits by the Diocesan Safe Environment Coordinator, Diocesan Human Resources staff, Office of parish Religious Education and through the insurance inspections performed by Catholic Mutual Group representatives. Diocese of Arlington, Virginia MASSES TO PRAY FOR HEALING FOR VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE His Excellency, Bishop Paul S. Loverde, offered the first Mass to Pray for Healing for Victims/Survivors of Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Arlington in June 2004. The Diocese of Arlington has celebrated a total of 25 Masses for this intention. The readings, music, and Prayers of the Faithful have been specially selected to offer healing to victims/survivors. One of the Victim Assistance Coordinators speaks briefly at the end of Mass to encourage victims to come forward and report. The Masses have been followed by a simple reception, and those who attend can speak with the Bishop, the Victim Assistance Coordinators, and the other priests in attendance. We estimate that 1,900 people have attended these Masses since their inception. During this audit period, the Masses were held at: Saint Mary Catholic Church, Alexandria on November 18, 2008. Saint Mark Catholic Church, Vienna on March 9, 2009. Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Triangle on June 8, 2009. PRAYER SERVICES FOR HEALING FOR VICTIMS SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE In addition to the Masses to Pray for Healing for Victims/Survivors of Sexual Abuse, the Diocese of Arlington has also hosted a series of Prayer Services for this intention since April 2005. Reverend Mark Mealey, O.S.F.S., Vicar General, has been the main celebrant of most of the 14 Prayer Services for Healing for Victims/Survivors. The readings and Prayer of the Faithful are the same as those chosen for the Masses to pray for healing. The Prayer Services include a survivor‘s testimony of his/her efforts to heal from the effects of sexual abuse; the Diocese of Arlington has three individuals who work with our program who, after consultation with their treatment providers, have volunteered to speak at various events. The Prayer Services 4 have been followed by a simple reception, and those who attend can speak with the Vicar General, the Victim Assistance Coordinators, the survivor who spoke during the service, and the other priests in attendance. We estimate that 250 people have attended the Prayer Services since their inception. The Prayer Services during the last audit period have been held at: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Arlington on September 27, 2008. St. Jude Catholic Church, Fredericksburg on October 4, 2008. St. Louis Catholic Church, Alexandria on April 25, 2009. EVENINGS WITH BISHOP LOVERDE AT DOMINICAN RETREAT During this audit period, Bishop Loverde continued to invite all victims/survivors of sexual abuse and a support person to a series of support group meetings at the Dominican Retreat in McLean, Virginia. The meetings consisted of dinner, discussion, and a prayer service. Bishop Loverde offered encouragement to those in attendance in their spiritual and psychological struggles from the pain of abuse. At the end of the evening, the Bishop gave the victims/survivors and their support person a memento of the evening. The gifts this year were olive wood hand crosses and a copy of the New American Bible. The evenings were held at the Dominican Retreat on October 22, 2008, November 3, 2008, May 4, 2009 and May 19, 2009. A total of 229 people- both victims/survivors and support people- have attended the various programs at Dominican Retreat with Bishop Loverde. ADVISORY BOARD Bishop Loverde created an Advisory Board to assist the Office of Child and Youth Protection and the Office of Victim Assistance in planning. The Advisory Board serves a different role than the Review Board. The Advisory Board meets regularly to discuss the efforts and programming of the Offices of Child and Youth Protection and Victim Assistance and to offer a variety of perspectives. Composed of seven lay persons, a Diocesan priest, and a sister of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, the Board reviews the progress of the offices in meeting the needs of outreach and protection. VICTIMS/SURVIVORS PLANNING GROUP In an effort to be responsive to the needs of victims/survivors of sexual abuse, the Diocese of Arlington formed a small Victims/Survivors Planning Group. The goal of this group is to give feedback to the Victim Assistance Coordinators on the various efforts made by the diocese to reach out to victims/survivors and to encourage their psychological and spiritual healing. Over this past audit year, the group: Drafted a brochure that has been placed around the diocese in offices and parishes. Developed a plan for a conference for diocesan employees about how to help victims/survivors, which currently is on hold. Discussed planning for a day-long retreat for victims/survivors and a support person that is scheduled for fall 2009. 5 PRIEST WORKSHOP The Office of Victim Assistance offers annual workshops on abuse and trauma to a select group of diocesan priests who provide spiritual direction to victims/survivors of sexual abuse. These priests offer an important spiritual component to healing for victims/survivors. This group of priests is trained by area professionals and has the opportunity to hear testimony from a survivor of sexual abuse. This year, the training was held on June 5, 2009. Renowned psychologist Dr. Christine Courtois presented on complex trauma, abuse, and spiritual direction, and two survivors of clergy abuse spoke to the priests. SCOPE OF OUTREACH TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON Bishop Loverde has encouraged the Victim Assistance Coordinators in outreach efforts to victims/survivors of incest and violence on the streets in addition to those who were abused by someone in the Church. During the last audit period, the Victim Assistance Coordinators have received calls from 47 individuals and family members who have suffered from abuse in their families or through violence on the street. In addition, the Victim Assistance Coordinators continued to provide outreach and healing to 15 individuals and family members who contacted the office in previous years. COMMUNICATION The VACs sent color copies of the schedule to all pastors for their parishes. The VACs wrote letters to pastors whose parishes are near the ones hosting events.