Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection
Almighty and most loving God, through your Son your compassion brought healing to many. We ask for your healing once more for all who have been profoundly wounded by abuse, especially those who have been hurt by your ministers. In your goodness, we ask for the grace to be a source of healing to all who have been abused and to be ever vigilant in protecting all your people. Grant, we pray, our prayers for healing and forgiveness, for we ask them through your Son, Christ our Lord. Amen Copyright 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC.
PDF version available online at www.usccb.org/charter Printed version currently being finalized Notice will be sent out to the CYP community when final version is available for purchase via the USCCB online store
The revisions to the Charter will NOT be audited for the current 2018 audit cycle Audit Workgroup Currently reviewing Request s for Proposals for potential new audit vendor Reviewing current audit instrument for possible revisions
Began in 2013 Collaborating entities Bishops and diocesan priests councils Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People National Review Board Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth USCCB General Counsel Feedback from Safe Environment and Victim Assistance Coordinators and other diocesan personnel Conf. of Major Superior s of Men, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Conf. of Major Superior s of Women Religious Working Group created specifically for the revision
Bishops submitted feedback and changes Modifications and amendments to the document Main feedback The document works keep the main components Only make minimal changes Still up to each local ordinary to implement the Charter in his diocese/eparchy
Notes: Pages and paragraph numbers listed are based on the 2018 PDF version available online at www.usccb.org/charter - refers to the paragraph number
Clarified clerics as priests and deacons (per syntax) Added eparchy so new version consistently states diocese/eparchy Changed asterisks (*) to superscripts (¹) As applicable, changed child and youth to minor Changed His Holiness to St. John Paul II
Page P. 2 1 P. 2 1 P. 2 1 Bishops General Meeting Revised in 2011, second revision General Secretary was Msgr. David J. Malloy Bishops Plenary Assembly Revised in 2018, third revision General Secretary is Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield
Page P. 3 1 P. 3 2 have caused enormous pain, anger, and confusion. Added for victims, their families, and the entire Church. Added as new paragraph We share Pope Francis conviction that everything possible must be done to rid the Church of the scourge of the sexual abuse of minors and to open pathways of reconciliation and healing for those who were abused (Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences and Superiors of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Concerning the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, February 2, 2015).
Page & P. 3 3 P. 3 3 P. 4 1 we re-affirm our deep commitment to creating a safe environment Commissioned causes and context study We apologize to them for the grave harm we re-affirm our deep commitment to sustain and strengthen a safe environment Added We will use what we have learned to strengthen the protection given to the children and young people in our care. We apologize to each victim for the grave harm P. 4 1 and we offer our help for the future. and we offer our help now and for the future. /DD
Page P. 4 1 P. 4 2 P. 4 3 Ended with an appalling sin in the eyes of God. being misunderstood in their ministry and even the possibility of false accusations. Words alone cannot accomplish this goal. It will begin with the actions we take Added We will continue to help victims recover from these crimes and strive to prevent these tragedies from occurring. being misunderstood in their ministry and often casts over them an undeserved air of suspicion. We have seen that words alone cannot accomplish this goal. We will continue to take action DD
DD Page P. 5 1 P. 5 3 P. 5 6 P. 5 6 we have felt the power of sin touch our entire Church In a special way, we acknowledge those victims Ended with violation of sacred trust. we feel the power of sin touch our entire Church Added In solidarity with Pope Francis, we express heartfelt love and sorrow for the victims of abuse. In a special way, we acknowledge and thank victims Added With Pope Francis, we praise the courage of those who speak out about their abuse; their actions are a service of love, since for us it sheds light on a terrible darkness in the life of the church. We pray that the remnants of the darkness which touch them may be healed (Address to Victims of Sexual Abuse, July 7, 2014).
Page P. 7 6 P. 8 3 Ended with Causes and Context study. While it seems that the scope of this disturbing problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy has been reduced over the last decade Added The Study, which calls for ongoing education, situational prevention, and oversight and accountability, was completed in 2011. While the number of reported cases of sexual abuse has decreased over the last sixteen years DD
Page P. 9 4 The procedures for making a complaint are to be readily available in printed form The procedures for those making a complaint are to be readily available in printed form and other media DD
Page P. 10 3 report an allegation of sexual abuse of a person who is a minor to the public authorities. Added with due regard for the seal of the Sacrament of Penance. DD/
Page P. 10 6 Ended with no place in the priesthood or religious life for those who would harm the young. Added Pope Francis has consistently reiterated this with victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Page P. 11 6 standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy and for any other paid personnel and volunteers of the Church in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy and for any other paid personnel and volunteers of the Church with regard to their contact with minors.
Page P. 12 5 Ended with compliance with the provisions and expectations of the Charter. Added sentence The audit method refers to the process and techniques used to determine compliance with the Charter. The audit scope relates to the focus, parameters, and time period for the matters to be examined during an individual audit.
Page P. 13 6 on matters of child and youth protection, specifically on polices and best practices. Added sentence For example, the Board will continue to monitor the recommendations derived from the Causes and Context study.
Page P. 14 4 P. 14 4 to provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, volunteers and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people. standards of conduct for clergy and other persons in positions of trust with regard to children. to provide education and training for minors, parents, ministers, employees, volunteers, and others about ways to sustain and foster a safe environment for minors. standards of conduct for clergy and other persons with regard to their contact with minors.
Page & P. 14 5 Dioceses/eparchies are to evaluate the background of all incardinated and non-incardinated priests and deacons who are engaged in ecclesiastical ministry in the diocese/eparchy and of all diocesan/eparchial and parish/school or other paid personnel and volunteers whose duties include ongoing, unsupervised contact with minors. The Diocesan/eparchial bishop is to evaluate the background of all incardinated priests and deacons. When a priest or deacon, not incardinated in the diocese/eparchy, is to engage in ministry in the diocese/eparchy, regardless of the length of time, the evaluation of his background may be satisfied through a written attestation of suitability for ministry supplied by his proper ordinary/major superior to the diocese/eparchy. Dioceses/eparchies are to evaluate the background of all their respective diocesan/eparchial and parish/school or other paid personnel and volunteers whose duties include contact with minors. (continued on next slide)
/DD Page & P. 15 1 Specifically, they are to utilize the resources of law enforcement and other community agencies. In addition, they are to employ adequate screening and evaluative techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates for ordination (cf. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Program of Priestly Formation [Fifth Edition], 2006, no. 39). Specifically, they are to utilize the resources of law enforcement and other community agencies. Each diocese/eparchy is to determine the application/renewal of background checks according to local practice. In addition, they are to employ adequate screening and evaluative techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates for ordination (See United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Program of Priestly Formation [Fifth Edition], 2006, no. 39 and the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, n.178 j).²
Page P. 16 1 the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests. Added as well as similar, appropriate programs for deacons based upon the criteria found in the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States. DD
Page P. 16 5 P. 17 4 P. 17 4 It is with reliance on prayer and penance that we review the pledges It is to be reviewed again after two years Ended with The results of this review are to be presented to the full Conference of Bishops for confirmation. It is with reliance on the grace of God and in a spirit of prayer and penance that we renew the pledges It is to be reviewed again after seven years Added Authoritative interpretations of its provisions are reserved to the Conference of Bishops. DD
DD Page P. 18 3 Ended with If there is any doubt paragraph. Added as final paragraph note 2 In 2009, after consultation with members of the USCCB Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and approval from the USCCB Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, additional Model Letters of Suitability, now available on the USCCB website, were agreed upon and published for use by bishops and major superiors in situations which involve both temporary and extended ministry for clerics.
Any change in the Essential Norms would need to be approved by the Holy See Booklet version of revised Charter is currently being finalized Notification will be sent to CYP community when available DD/
Dcn. Bernie Nojadera Executive Director 202-541-5418 bnojadera@usccb.org Drew Dillingham Coordinator for Resources and Special Projects 202-541-3094 ddillingham@usccb.org Melanie Takinen Associate Director 202-541-3411 mtakinen@usccb.org Laura Garner Executive Assistant 202-541-5413 lgarner@usccb.org