Diocese Remains Vigilant on Problem of Sexual Abuse

The Diocese of Scranton continues to refine its programs to address the issue of sexual abuse of minors by clergy.

The most recent example is a change in the method the Diocese will use to obtain background checks for all clergy, employees and volunteers. Background checks are required by the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, enacted in 2002 by the United States bishops.

The Diocese has contracted with a firm called ChoicePoint to provide this critical service.  The name of the program offered by ChoicePoint is VolunteerSelect.

“This program will significantly improve the way in which we do background checks,” said Gail Fromm, the Diocesan compliance officer who was hired in 2006 to assist pastors and school administrators to comply with this requirement.

In the past, she explained, the Diocese used the Pennsylvania State Police background check program, which was able to focus only on databases in the Commonwealth.  VolunteerSelect provides a national criminal search, social security verification and a sex offender registry search.

The Pennsylvania background check program costs $20 per search for the State Police and Child Abuse checks; VolunteerSelect, which provides substantially more information, costs $8 per person.

In addition, the VolunteerSelect clearances can be obtained online, which will streamline and simplify the background check process.

Mrs. Fromm, who is visiting parishes and schools to introduce the new system, said the change to the VolunteerSelect program will be gradual and will take place as existing clearances expire. The clearances already completed by schools and parishes are still valid for three years from the date printed on the clearance.

Background checks and clearances have been completed for 7,386 individuals.

Mrs. Fromm is also reminding everyone about the provisions of the Code of Pastoral Conduct, established by the Diocese in 2003 to ensure that proper behavior is followed whenever there is interaction with children in the workplace or any setting where people are gathered for spiritual, educational or social activities conducted under the auspices of the Church.

All clergy, employees and volunteers have received a summary of the code for their review and signature.

The Diocese also 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, 544 sessions have been held and 16,477 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.

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 national charter was promulgated 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.

For more information about VIRTUS training, contact Sarah Mountain, Diocesan VIRTUS coordinator, at 570-563-8500.

For information on the background checks and clearances, the Code of Pastoral Conduct, or any other compliance issues, contact Gail Fromm, Diocesan compliance officer, at 570-207-2214.