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Press Release

Cardinal Bevilacqua Announces Commission Members
The Comission on the Protection of Children and Clerical Conduct
6 June 2002

The Commission on the Protection of Children and Clerical Conduct to Begin Work in June

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, announced today that he has appointed ten people to The Commission on the Protection of Children and Clerical Conduct in addition to the chair, Ms. Helen Alvare , whose appointment was announced in April 2002. Cardinal Bevilacqua said, "These eleven commission members bring a wide range of talents and experience to this process of reviewing matters related to incidents of clerical sexual abuse. I am aware of how valuable their time is and am extremely appreciative that they are willing to offer their service for this very important task. I look forward to the recommendations of the Commission."

All eleven members of the Commission are lay people. There are six Catholics and five non-Catholics. This group reflects a diversity of professions, occupations and fields of expertise. The Commission will begin work in June and has six months to complete its work and submit recommendations to Cardinal Bevilacqua.

Ms. Alvare , the Chair, is a professor of law at The Catholic University in Washington D.C. and is nationally recognized for her work on pro-life issues. From 1990 to 2000, she served as a Policy Director for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Office. According to Ms. Alvare , "All of the Commission members are extremely eager to begin their work. Each brings to the table a different expertise and a common desire to provide Cardinal Bevilacqua with the best possible recommendations to help him protect children and strengthen the Church in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia."

The Commission on the Protection of Children and Clerical Conduct will have the general charge of undertaking a review of current policies and procedures regarding clerical misconduct and, if deemed appropriate, of recommending revisions and additional policies, procedures or programmatic initiatives for the consideration of the Cardinal. The review will include current policies and procedures regarding the care for victims, current policies and procedures regarding the Archdiocesan response to any allegation of clergy sexual abuse, current admission process for Archdiocesan candidates for studies for the priesthood and diaconate as well as relevant human formation programs.

The goal of the Commission is to provide Cardinal Bevilacqua with recommendations which will enable him to do his utmost to:
-protect children by eradicating as much as possible any sexual abuse of them by clergy
-strengthen Catholic solidarity and outreach for victims and their families
-form and support the clergy in their ministry to all people
-strengthen the confidence and trust of the Catholic faithful and the community at large

Editor's Note:
Commission members will be available for interviews at a media availability prior to the Commission's first meeting. The media availability will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium of the Archdiocesan Office Center at 222 North Seventeenth Street in Philadelphia.

 

THE COMMISSION ON THE PROTECTION
OF CHILDREN AND CLERICAL CONDUCT
Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Commission Members: Biographical Information

Ms. Helen Alvare , J.D., M.A. (Chair), law professor, The Catholic University of America
Ms. Helen Alvare teaches family, property and legislation law at The Catholic University of America. She joined the faculty in 2000. Ms. Alvare served as a Policy Director for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Office from 1990 to 2000. She worked as a staff attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1987 to 1990. Ms. Alvare was a litigation associate with the law firm of Stradley, Ronon, Stevens and Young in Philadelphia from 1984 to 1987.

Judge Arlin Marvin Adams, retired federal judge
Judge Adams served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 1969 until his retirement in 1987. From 1963 to 1966, he served as Secretary for Public Welfare in Pennsylvania. Judge Adams taught at the University of Pennsylvania from 1952 to 1956 and at the American Institute of Banking from 1949 to 1952. Currently, Judge Adams serves as Counsel, Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis LLP.

Ms. Ana Maria Catanzaro, R.N, M.S.N., M.A., assistant professor, Special Project for Nursing Programs, LaSalle University (effective, September 2002)
Ms. Ana Maria Catanzaro has taught nursing at LaSalle University in Philadelphia since 1997. From 1993 to 2002 she has also taught nursing at Holy Family College in Philadelphia. Ms. Catanzaro is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the School of Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. with an anticipated completion of her dissertation on the Spiritual Development of the Nursing Student in a Context of Religious Diversity in 2003. From 1989 to 1999, Ms. Catanzaro served as a School Nurse in the Philadelphia School District.

Dr. James Egan, M.D., professor of psychiatry and pediatrics, George Washington University
Dr. James Egan is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at George Washington University in Washington D.C., a post he has held since 1990. Dr. Egan served as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital, National Medical Center. Dr. Egan also taught in the departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and of Child Health and Development at George Washington University from 1981 to 1990. He served as Teaching Analyst and Lecturer at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute in Washington, D.C. from 1978 to 1997.

Mr. Michael J. Emmi, retired CEO, Systems & Computer Technology Corporation
Mr. Michael J. Emmi recently retired as President/CEO and Chairman of Systems & Computer Technology Corporation in Malvern, PA. Mr. Emmi joined SCT in 1985 as CEO, a company which provides leading technology and business solutions for higher education, utilities and manufacturing. Mr. Emmi is currently Chairman and CEO of IPR International.

Dr. Angelo P. Giardino, M.D., Ph.D., pediatrician, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Dr. Angelo Giardino joined the staff of Saint Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia in 2002 and serves as the Associate Physician-in-Chief and Vice-President for Clinical Affairs. He was part of the medical staff at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from 1993 to 2002 where he held various posts, including Medical Director of the Community Education Department. Dr. Giardino also served in many capacities at the Children's Seashore House between the years 1994 to 1999, one of which was Medical Director, Abuse Referral Center for Children with Special Needs.

Dr. David W. Ingle, Psy.D., M.A., director of the Adult and Forensic Program, the Joseph J. Peters Institute (outpatient treatment program for sexual offenders)
Dr. David Ingle is Director of the Adult and Forensic Program, The Joseph J. Peters Institute in Philadelphia, an outpatient treatment program for adult sexual offenders. He has held this post since 2001. Dr. Ingle also was hired as Staff Clinical Psychologist at the Ann Klein Forensic Center in 2001, a state of New Jersey Civil Commitment Facility organized to treat individuals determined to be sexually violent predators. Dr. Ingle served as Staff Therapist at the Keystone Center Extended Care United from 1999 to 2000. The Keystone Center offers care of sexual compulsives and addicts. When he was a child, Dr. Ingle was the victim of sexual abuse by a family friend.

Dr. Philip Jenkins, Ph.D., distinguished Professor of History and Religious Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Philip Jenkins is Distinguished Professor of History and Religious Studies at The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Since 1979, Professor Jenkins has published 15 books, including Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis (1996)

Ms. Joan Reeves, M.S.W., M.P.A., field Consultation Manager, Child Welfare League of America
Ms. Joan Reeves was recently appointed Field Consultation Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Child Welfare League of America, National Center for Field Consultation. From 2000 to 2002, she served as Senior Consultant for the Child Welfare League of America, National Center for Field Consultation. From 1993 to 2000, Ms. Reeves was the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services of the City of Philadelphia. In this position, she lead a social services department that employed 1,800 staff members. Ms. Reeves was also the founding Chairperson of the Mayor's Children and Families Cabinet in the City of Philadelphia from 1993 to 1999.

Ms. Anne Leigh Shenberger, L.S.W., M.S.S., director, Southeast Region Office of Children, Youth and Families
Ms. Shenberger is the Director of the Southeast Region Office of Children, Youth and Families of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. She has been director since 1987 but worked with the Department of Public Welfare overall since 1975. From 1981-1987, Ms. Shenberger was Children, Youth and Families Program Supervisor for the Southeast Region of the Office of Children, Youth and Families. From 1975 to 1981, Ms. Shenberger was a Program Specialist with the Department of Public Welfare.

Commissioner John F. Timoney, former Commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department
Commissioner John Timoney led the Philadelphia Police Department as Commissioner from 1998 to 2001. He commanded a police force of approximately 7,000 officers and over 900 civilian employees. Commissioner Timoney came to Philadelphia from the New York Police Department, which he joined in 1969, rising to the rank of First Deputy Commissioner in 1995. Mr. Timoney is currently CEO of Beau Dietl and Associates, a New York City based international security firm.