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The Catholic Standard and Times
Lou Baldwin, Staff Writer

Archdiocesan Review Board Meeting Monthly
5 June 2003

If a priest or any archdiocesan employee is accused of sexual misconduct with a minor, it must be reported immediately to the civil authorities for investigation.

But what must the Church itself do? Aside from civil law, there may be a violation of Church law. That’s where the archdiocesan Review Board comes in. A primary function of the board is to review such cases and make a recommendation to the archbishop.

Here in Philadelphia, this mechanism is already in place. Cardinal Bevilacqua appointed an interim board in October 2002; the permanent board has been meeting since April 26.

The five members of the board represent different areas of expertise. In addition to James Amato, who directs child care for the Archdiocese and serves as board coordinator, the members are Ana Maria Catanzaro, a registered nurse who teaches at La Salle University and has worked with children in the Philadelphia public schools; Dr. Angelo P. Giardino, a pediatrician with St. Christopher’s Hospital; Father Thomas J. Owens, pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish, Maple Glen and former dean of men in the Theology Division of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary; and Mary Louise Johnson, an attorney and board member of several Catholic child care agencies.

Anne Leigh Shenberger, an official with the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare and Dr. David W. Ingle, an expert in the treatment of sex offenders, are consultants to the board.

Giardino, Ingle, Johnson and Shenberger served on the archdiocesan Commission on the Protection of Children and Clerical Conduct, the ad hoc group that was chaired by attorney Helen Alvare. All, with the exception of Johnson, were also members of the interim board.

In addition, three priests who are canon lawyers have been appointed as Promoters of Justice. They present cases before a tribunal of judges if there is an ecclesiastical trial. The Promoters of Justice attend review board meetings as observers and are available to answer questions board members might have about church law.

“We have a tremendous blend of talents and professional discipline that will give us a great opportunity to take a fair look at the issues in front of us,” Amato said. “We’ve met twice. Right now, we are meeting monthly and will meet more frequently as the work indicates.

“At our first meeting, Cardinal Bevilacqua gave us our charge, and he was very encouraging. It’s basically to review all allegations of abuse after the civil authorities have reviewed them; second to determine the credibility of the allegations.

“Other roles include the review of all archdiocesan policies and procedures that speak to safe environment training and the protection of children. The Cardinal told us he will review our recommendations and take them into account as he makes decisions on the matters before us.”

In a number of cases, Amato noted, the civil authorities have decided the charges are too old to review or there wasn’t enough hard evidence to determine credibility, but the Review Board will be taking a look at these cases and making recommendations in terms of ministry for the clergy involved.

“I think there has been a very thorough look at what came out of Dallas,” Amato said. “The Archdiocese is developing structures that speak to what the bishops asked us to do.”

For Catanzaro, the Review Board is continuity from the Commission on the Protection of Children and Clerical Conduct.

“We tried to be as thorough as we could, considering the time constraints of finishing in six months,” she said. “I think it was very progressive, the Cardinal had a lot of foresight looking at formation.

“What do we need to do to prevent this from ever happening again? We tried to balance better what’s going on now, what works, what doesn’t work, what needs to be done. Our objective was not to have a witch hunt, it was to look at the issue as objectively as possible.”

Sitting on a board of this nature may not be the most pleasant of duties. “I ... was asked to serve,” Cantanzaro said. “After considering, I decided I had insights to offer and have a responsibility to do that.”

Everybody needs to be informed and to know the proper code of conduct for an employee of the archdiocese, she believes. Being a mother and grandmother (working on a doctorate in theology), parenthood gives her a special perspective.

“You are always concerned about this. You hear stories and don’t know what to believe,” she said. “As a parent, I would be concerned about what my kids are exposed to in a school or even a parish situation.

“You teach them to trust and respect, but you also have to teach them right and wrong, and to stand up for themselves and not let themselves be abused. I’ve worked with kids who were abused and looking at the damage caused is something that is of great concern.”