Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, June 21, 2002 Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse Diocesan Review Board, assistance coordinatorwill help deal with allegations, review policies By Elaine Polomsky Soos Bishop Thomas J. Tobin plans to begin implementing as soon as possible the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” adopted last week in Dallas by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he told members of the local news media at a press conference June 17. Pending approval by Pope John Paul II, the Charter would bind all U.S. dioceses to deal quickly, firmly and uniformly with allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy or other church personnel. The norms will be reviewed every two years by the bishops’ conference and adjusted as necessary. (The full text of Bishop Tobin’s statement to the media appears on Page 3) As required by the Charter, Bishop Tobin said he will form a Diocesan Review Board to help deal with the issue of sexual abuse of minors. He will also appoint an Assistance Coordinator, who will oversee components of the diocesan policy on such abuse. The Diocesan Advisory Board, composed primarily of lay persons not employed by the diocese, is to assist the bishop with:  Assessing allegations made against priests and their fitness for ministry  Regularly reviewing diocesan policies and procedures for dealing with sexual abuse of minors  Acting both retrospectively and prospectively on these matters and giving advice on all aspects of responses required in connection with these cases. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People requires that procedures for those making a complaint be readily available in printed form and that they “be the subject of periodic public announcements.” Copies of each diocese’s policy on sexual abuse of minors by church personnel are to be placed on file with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Other requirements of the Charter appear in the published text on Page 14.) With the assistance of the Diocesan Review Board, Bishop Tobin said, he will review the status of retired priests accused of past child sexual abuse “to be certain that they fully comply with the demands of the Charter and the Code of Canon Law.” He reiterated his earlier statements that there have been no allegations of recent sexual abuse of children by clergy in the diocese. The 17 reported cases all go back many years, some as many as 59 years, when the diocese was formed, he said. Bishop Tobin called the new norms adopted by the bishops conference “severe” but stressed that he endorses them and believes they accomplish the goal of “zero tolerance” regarding sexual abuse of minors by clergy. “Priests who abuse children – past, present or future – will not be permitted to function as priests, ever again,” Bishop Tobin told the media representatives. Under the Charter, all dioceses must turn over to civil authorities for investigation any allegations of sexual abuse against a minor. Priests who engage in even a single act of child sexual abuse will be removed from ministry and not reassigned anywhere. In extreme cases, Bishop Tobin noted, a bishop may ask the Vatican to dispense the priest from the clerical state altogether, returning him to the laicized state. At the news conference, Bishop Tobin said he was pleased that the new Charter contained many of the elements already found in the diocese’s Child Protection Policy promulgated by Bishop James W. Malone in 1994 and updated in 1999. Among these elements are outreach to victims of abuse and their families; prompt diocesan investigation of abuse allegations; prompt reporting of allegations of abuse to public authorities; removal from ministry of priests and deacons who have been identified as child abusers; and programs of education and prevention to provide a safe environment for young people. In his statement to the media, Bishop Tobin apologized to persons who have “been harmed through sexual abuse or in any other way by another member of the Church.” He encouraged (as he has in past statements) anyone who has been a victim of abuse to “come forward … to the diocese and to public authorities.” He praised the dedicated work of priests of the Youngstown Diocese, and he asked local Catholics to “pray for their priests” and for priestly and religious vocations. He acknowledged the responsibility of bishops in the way that allegations of sexual abuse were handled in the past in dioceses across the country. He pointed out that a committee was formed at the Dallas meeting which would develop ways to hold bishops more accountable for their actions on the issue. He noted that one of the bishops remarked at the conference meeting that “the only one who can punish a bishop is the pope.” But there are “ways short of that that the bishops as a fraternity … can be held accountable to one another,” Bishop Tobin said. He continued: “Just last year, for example, we passed a rather detailed procedure which holds each bishop in his diocese more accountable for diocesan finances on a provincial, a regional level. That’s in place now … and I think that has been pretty effective. Something like that could serve as a model by which bishops could be held more accountable by their peers … for the way we behave and the way we implement this policy. That sense of accountability and peer pressure among bishops is very strong; so even though there might not be too many ways the bishops can be punished, removed from office, or sanctioned, except by the Holy Father, there are certainly other ways that will be very effective in [holding bishops accountable] across the board.” Asked whether the bishops’ new Charter would affect bishops’ relationships with diocesan clergy in the future, discouraging priests from bringing problems to their bishop, Bishop Tobin said that, unfortunately, it might. “The penalties are so very severe and there’s not much room for negotiation here,” he said. “I think it is very possible that … it would be hard for some priests to come forward and talk to their bishop about these things as perhaps they have in the past.” On the matter of support of the local Church by diocesan Catholics, including financial support of parishes and Mass attendance, the bishop said both have remained steady or slightly increased in the past months. Moreover, contributions to this year’s Annual Bishop’s Appeal, “our clearest barometer,” are up about 18 percent, he said. “So, so far, there has been no tangible consequence of this [issue]. What we are finding, I think, is that some people … are rallying around their priests and rallying around the Church at this time of challenge, and that’s very encouraging for us.” The scandal has also not seemed to have negatively affected the diocese’s seminarians, Bishop Tobin said. At a recent meeting of the board of trustees of one of the diocesan seminaries, the bishop said, seminarians said, in so many words, ‘We recognize this as a time of crisis in the Church; we recognize this as a human problem, but this makes us more determined than ever to be good priests, and we think we as seminarians and future priests, are being called to help and purify the Church.’ We were trying to encourage the seminarians and in turn they encouraged us, saying, ‘We’re OK with this; we recognize what’s going on and we think we can help the Church in the years to come.’” The bishop added that, in recent years, candidates for the priesthood have been screened much more intensely than in the last 20-40 years. “That doesn’t guarantee that there won’t be problems again, but it does say that the processes are much clearer and stronger than they used to be. … I would remind you that most of the cases of allegations of abuse we are dealing with here are coming from a time frame of 20-50 years ago, when the seminary system was very different. … So I think we’ve already come a long way in addressing the situation.” Asked whether the scandal has changed the way Bishop Tobin views the Church or his role as diocesan shepherd, he said it has not. “I recognize that the Church is fully human but it has a divine mission…,” he said. Seeing the sins of Church leaders in the forefront of the news for so long is “very humbling,” he said, a reminder that even in the Church, people are not free from human weakness. Asked whether the diocese plans to release figures showing money that has been spent in the past defending priests, as some dioceses are doing, Bishop Tobin said he doesn’t feel there is a need to do that in the Youngstown Diocese. “I would say a couple of things: first of all, every year, we publish a full financial audited report in the diocese. … We’ve done that for a number of years now. I also have to say that at the present time I’m not aware of any legal settlements of any cases involving sexual abuse of minors in this diocese that have resulted in any kind of payments of that sort. We have certainly offered in the past and will continue to offer financial assistance to individuals for counseling purposes and therapy purposes, but to the best of my knowledge, and I stand to be corrected, at least in recent years the diocese hasn’t entered into any confidential settlements with anyone involved in sexual abuse of minors.” He pointed out that one of the conditions of the bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is that dioceses will no longer be permitted to enter into confidentiality agreements with victims unless the victim specifically requires that, and those reasons are listed in the agreement. “So really, we put the ball back into the … court of the victims themselves, saying we are not going to enter into confidentiality agreements unless you have some specific reason to do so, and that has to be certified.” Near the close of the press conference, the bishop took the opportunity to clarify what he said was an error being reported in the local news media. Msgr. Robert Reidy, retired pastor of Niles Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, who was recently accused of the sexual abuse of two brothers decades ago, has not admitted to the abuse, the bishop said. Because the matter is currently in litigation, he was unable to comment further on it, he said.   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