News

Diocese again in compliance with U.S. Bishops' norms

By Renae Bauer
Communications Department

Reporting abuse If you know of an incident of sexual abuse of a minor or inappropriate conduct by a priest or deacon, please report it to: Ann Fox, Diocesan Assistance Coordinator Phone: 1-877-270-8174 or 272-8174 E-mail: officesafeenv@gbdioc.org In writing:     Catholic Diocese of Green Bay     ATTN Ann Fox     PO Box 23825     Green Bay, WI 54305-3825 If you prefer to report an incident to someone not employed by the diocese, call Bob Johnson, executive director of American Foundation of Counseling Services in Green Bay and a facilitator who can assist you in filing a report. Phone (920)437-8256. Also report the incident to local civil authorities.

For the third consecutive year the Green Bay Diocese is in full compliance with the U.S. Bishops' national standards for creating and maintaining safe environments for children, Bp. David Zubik said in an announcement scheduled for release on March 30.

"As the Bishop of this diocese, it is extremely important to me that we continue to fully participate in and pass the audits," Bp. Zubik said. "The audits give us valuable feedback on how well we are meeting the expectations set forth in the U.S. Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Ultimately, this is a measure of how well we are serving survivors of abuse and how well we are creating safe environments for children and young people today. There is no item of higher priority for our church."

Measuring compliance was the responsibility of two independent auditors from The Gavin Group Inc., an independent, non-church organization based in Winthrop, Mass. For the last three years the firm has been auditing archdioceses and dioceses across the country. Most of its auditors are former agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The auditors visited Green Bay Nov. 7-10, 2005, and evaluated all documents to verify diocesan efforts to communicate with survivors, process allegations, conduct background checks, and educate adults and children about how to prevent abuse and what to do if abuse is suspected.

The auditors also interviewed 10 diocesan employees (both lay and ordained), a member of the Independent Review Board (an eight-member panel that assesses allegations of sexual abuse by priests and other church personnel), and Bp. Zubik. They also reviewed "Our Promise to Protect, Policies on Appropriate Conduct," the document that outlines diocesan policy and procedures on this critical matter.

"As pleased as I am regarding the auditors' findings, I know that we cannot rest," Bp. Zubik said. "I will continue to listen to victims and survivors, and we will continue to educate children and adults, screen people who are in positions of trust, and respond as needs arise."

Since April 2003, the diocese had conducted nearly 15,000 background checks on staff and volunteers at its 169 parishes, 60 schools and the diocesan pastoral center, and provided nearly 350 abuse prevention training sessions for staff and volunteers.

The auditors' executive summary of the Diocese of Green Bay as well as policies, procedures and past reports are available online at www.gbdioc.org under the "Protecting Our Children" icon.