Diocese Has Extensive Abuse Prevention Training Programs
 

The Diocese of Scranton has committed significant resources to foster safe environments for children.

The Diocese continues to train all employees and volunteers on how to create safe environments for children and young people, as mandated by the national charter.

The Diocese has been using the VIRTUS sexual abuse awareness and prevention program, “Protecting God’s Children,” to fulfill this requirement.

The program was introduced in the spring of 2003 and is ongoing. To date, 17,955 people have been trained.

The Diocese has also implemented a safe environment program for students in grades K-10 to teach them how to recognize and avoid situations that could lead to sexual abuse. It also encourages communication between children and their parents so that dangerous situations and incidents are reported promptly.

Last fall the Diocese began introducing safe environment lessons in its parish religious education programs. Henceforth the VIRTUS “Teaching Touching Safety” Program will be offered in religious education classes to complement the safe environment programs used by public schools.

The program to be taught in all Religious Education (CCD) classes teaches the children about safe and unsafe touches, and safe and unsafe adults in an age-appropriate manner and based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

“We wish to thank our parish directors of religious education and their volunteer staffs of catechists who are, by taking on this new challenge, helping us in our constant quest to keep our children safe, happy and healthy,” said Gail Fromm, the Diocesan compliance officer.

The Diocese of Scranton established a policy to deal with sexual abuse of minors by clergy in 1993, well before the issue received widespread public attention. After the United States bishops enacted the national Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in 2002, the Diocese refined its policy accordingly.

A Victim Assistance Coordinator was hired to provide outreach and confidential services to victims, and the Diocese revised the membership of its Review Board that assesses allegations and advises the Bishop. The procedures and process for filing complaints have been published in brochures, on the Diocesan website and in all parish bulletins.

The Diocesan policy requires reporting of all allegations of sexual abuse of a minor to civil authorities, no matter the current age of the victim; and the Diocese has a clear policy that addresses the process of dealing with complaints, including a prompt preliminary investigation and placing the accused priest on administrative leave. The Diocese requires that, when sexual abuse is admitted or established, the offending priest is permanently removed from ministry.

Every diocese in the U.S. undergoes an annual audit to determine if it is complying with the provisions of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The audits are conducted by The Gavin Group, Inc., which has been commissioned by the National Review Board, formed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to oversee the implementation of the charter.

Each of the annual audits has confirmed the Diocese of Scranton’s compliance with the charter.