Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, May 24, 2002 Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media By Elaine Polomsky Soos This week, diocesan vicar general Msgr. Robert Siffrin was asked by the Exponent to address the issue that has surfaced in some local media outlets that the diocese is concealing information from the public on past alleged abuse of children by clergy. Msgr. Siffrin pointed out that the diocese, in keeping with its Child Protection Policy, in place since 1994, took the initiative several weeks ago to approach the prosecutors in the involved counties of Stark and Mahoning, offering any information the prosecutors would want about the past alleged sexual abuse of children by several clergy, including the names of those accused. “We will continue to provide whatever these officials ask for, now or in the future,” Msgr. Siffrin said. There have been no allegations of recent child abuse by clergy, diocesan officials have stated. The diocese’s Child Protection Policy requires the chancellor, as the bishop’s official representative, to report complaints of child abuse to civil authorities (per Ohio Revised Code section 2151.421). Both the civil authorities and the diocese take specific actions when an allegation is made. In many cases, the statute of limitations may prevent prosecution, but the diocese will not allow a priest accused of child abuse even many years ago to pose any risk whatsoever to children, even though he may have had no accusation of recent abuse against him, Msgr. Siffrin stressed. That is why the five priests who, it was recently learned, allegedly abused children sexually 19 to 50 years ago have all resigned or been asked to resign, if they were not already retired (or deceased), he said. In years past, if such abuse was kept secret, it was likely because the victims’ families asked that it be (many victims still have that request today) and because experts’ understanding of pedophilia then was that it could always be cured with treatment, Msgr. Siffrin said. But, though today’s diocesan Child Protection Policy respects the privacy of victims of alleged abuse, this does not in any way prevent the diocese from acting immediately, appropriately and conscientiously on an accusation made against a priest, the vicar general said. Today “no diocesan priest accused of abuse in the past – or if this were to happen in the future – will be put in a position by the diocese in which he can abuse a child again,” the vicar general stressed. “If a recent case were to surface, we would follow our Child Protection Policy very carefully and very conscientiously — the case would go immediately to Children’s Services, as the [Ohio Revised] Code spells out, and we’d also follow up with a serious investigation on our part.” The accused person would be put on adminstrative leave while the diocese continued to do whatever civil authorities deemed necessary, the vicar general said. “Our commitment to the protection of young people and their families is played out in our response to seriously investigate even a case that might be 20, 25, 30-plus years old,” Msgr. Siffrin said. “The reason even old allegations are taken seriously is that we don’t want a priest functioning as a priest where he may be a danger to young people,” he said. “Old allegations that can be substantiated raise a red flag of concern that this person could potentially abuse a child. We will not let a priest about whom there have been even old allegations substantiated function publicly as a priest, where he would be in a position of trust and that trust could be misused.” The vicar general added that he takes all accusations that people bring to him at face value, understanding the great pain that an abused individual must have experienced, including the pain of reporting the abuse. “My presumption is that they are telling me the truth, unless the evidence they’re presenting starts contradicting itself or it doesn’t match other information. … The presumption always is that we are hearing truth, and then we have to use other evidence at hand to test out its veracity.” There are cases in which priests have been falsely accused of sexual abuse of minors, including Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago in the 1990s and recently Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, both of whom civil authorities were able to clear of any charges. In Cardinal Bernardin’s case, the man accusing him publicly admitted later than the abuse never happened. The diocese’s decision not to release to the media the names of the five above-mentioned priests comes from a desire to respect the privacy rights of all individuals involved, including those who have been accused of the abuse, Msgr. Siffrin said. In providing the names of alleged abusers to civil authorities, the diocese relies on those authorities to assess, from their own perspective, whether such release of names is sufficient or not, he said. “We trust our civil officials on this because we don’t want to unduly or unnecessarily tarnish or destroy the reputation of people, but at the same time we want to make sure that we’re not putting [children] at risk. … We do encourage victims to report abuse — even though it might be old — to civil authorities, and we do not discourage anyone from speaking to the press should they be so inclined,” Msgr. Siffrin said. To Catholics who are concerned that their children could be the target of abuse by a member of the clergy in the future, Msgr. Siffrin said, “I understand the apprehension and fears of people because of mistakes that have been made in the past by Church officials, especially in some areas of the country, and I suppose there are some people’s questions I’ll never be able to answer to their satisfaction, but I’d say we’ve certainly done all we’ve been asked to do and more, by Church standards and by civil standards.” He pointed out that the diocese, when developing its Child Protection Policy, “tapped some of the best authorities in the whole area of civil law, … counselors, therapists, people working in various aspects of society, and we’ll continue to tap their expertise as we revise and update the policy today and in the future. We’re in the process of the second revision of the policy [the first revision was done in 1999], and I suspect there will be more to come from the [National Conference of Catholic] Bishops’ meeting in June that will help us add to what we already have in place, and we’ll learn as a diocese how to continue cooperating with civil authority and the social structures in our communities to provide the best protection to children.” One component of the Child Protection Policy, Msgr. Siffrin noted, involves helping members and employees of the Church understand the issue of child abuse more completely. “I expect we’ll give much more attention to that in the future, because I think the more everyone understands the importance of child protection, … the better we can work together to secure that protection.” Child abuse occurs in every sector of society, in every faith tradition, in every community, in every profession, and wherever it occurs, it is a crime and a sin, diocesan officials have pointed out. “What I’d like to say is that we are committed to doing our part — and we will do our best — to ensure that a priest or a religious or an employee of the diocese cannot function in the name of the Church, or be active in the Church, in a way that they would be of harm to children,” Msgr. Siffrin said. “An even bigger challenge for us as a society,” he offered, “is for us to realize how much work we all need to do in another area — that of preventing individuals who are sexual predators [those who, throughout their lives, commit harmful acts against children, apparently without the ability to stop] from continuing to abuse children. There seems to be a great deal of work that we as a society have to do together to prevent these people from continuing to prey on our children.” The diocesan Child Protection Policy applies to all Diocese of Youngstown employees and those volunteers who minister to children on a regular basis. It is multi-faceted, dealing with:  Education (of employees and regular volunteers; of parents and children) on the issues of child protection and abuse, the symptoms of abuse, the duties of reporting abuse, etc.  Screening those who serve children and youth in the Church  Preventive intervention by individuals who observe others abusing children; and the obligation to report it  Response to complaints of child abuse (including how to bring a complaint to the diocese; the requirement of the diocese to report a case to civil and church authorities; initial actions the diocese takes with regard to an accused employee or volunteer and with regard to the victim and his/her family; investigation; further actions the diocese takes in substantiated cases of abuse; pastoral response to the victim, to people in parishes or institutions, and to the accused)  Continuing responsibilities (including periodic assessment of the Child Protection Policy; screening and education of potential candidates for priesthood and the permanent diaconate; the responsibility of leaders of parishes and institutions to see to it that the Child Protection Policy is followed on the local level; etc.)   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001