News

Diocese complies with safe environment standards

GREEN BAY -- For the fifth consecutive year the Diocese of Green Bay has been judged to be in full compliance with the U.S. bishops' national standards for creating and maintaining safe environments for children and vulnerable adults.

"On behalf of the Diocese of Green Bay, I am grateful to the staff and volunteers who are committed to this endeavor," said Deacon Tim Reilly, diocesan director of administration. "Time and again, I have seen a deep dedication from people who want to help others understand how to prevent abuse. When we work on this together we can create environments that are safe for children of all ages."

Measuring compliance was the responsibility of an auditor from The Gavin Group Inc., an independent organization based in Winthrop, Mass., that for the last five years has been auditing archdioceses and dioceses across the country. The majority of auditors are former agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The auditor in 2007, James Cagnassola, visited Green Bay Nov. 5-8 and verified diocesan efforts to:

• communicate with sexual abuse survivors,
  
  
• process allegations,
  
  
• conduct background checks,
  
  
• educate adults and children about how to prevent abuse and what to do if abuse is suspected.

He also reviewed "Our Promise to Protect: Policies on Appropriate Conduct," the document that outlines diocesan policy and procedures on abuse prevention.

As part of the audit, Cagnassola interviewed diocesan lay and ordained employees, and members of the Independent Review Board, an eight-member panel that assesses allegations of sexual abuse by priests and other church personnel.

"He commended us for our established LoSEC (Local Safe Environment Coordinator) program," said Ann Fox, assistance coordinator of the safe environment program.

LoSEC utilizes people trained in each parish to conduct the background checks and keep current records of employees and volunteers who work with children, young adults and vulnerable adults.

"He also commended us for the program we use to conduct our background checks ... and for the programs of safe environments for our children, conducted in our schools and religious education programs."

Since April 2003, the diocese has conducted nearly 20,000 background checks on staff and volunteers at its 160 parishes, 63 schools and diocesan offices, according to diocesan officials. Through 595 training sessions, more than 17,700 staff and volunteers have learned how to prevent abuse and what to do if they see suspicious behavior.

"We, as a diocese, are most grateful to our pastors, parish directors, religious education and school administrators, and VIRTUS facilitators," said Fox, "who willingly volunteer to work with our diocese." She also thanked parishes that were audited by phone this year.

The diocese's policies, procedures and past reports are available online at www.gbdioc.org under the icon marked "Protecting Our Children."