Keeping Children Safe

The following article by Cardinal Justin Rigali appeared as an Op-Ed column in the September 22, 2005 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Keeping Children Safe

Cardinal Justin Rigali

As the Archbishop of almost 1.5 million Catholics in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, I know that the issue of clergy sexual abuse has caused pain and confusion for some people and anger for others. I understand these feelings and am sorry that the actions of a very small minority of priests have caused hurt and mistrust. Once again, I offer my deep apologies to those who have suffered sexual abuse by a priest or employee of the church.

Our experience in the last several years has taught us a great deal about this issue of critical importance to society. Any incident of sexual abuse of a minor can cause serious mental and emotional harm to a victim. Understanding this, the Archdiocese has for many years provided for psychological counseling and related treatment for victims of this sexual misconduct.

When the grand jury began its work almost three and a half years ago, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was already moving forward, taking steps to protect young people. Much of what we have done was recommended by our own blue ribbon panel, chaired by Ms. Helen Alvare, a respected attorney. The Alvare Commission worked for ten months during 2002 to evaluate Archdiocesan policies and procedures related to clerical misconduct. In all of our efforts, the safety of children and help for victims are paramount.

• All priests and deacons, as well as parish staff, teachers and volunteers who have regular contact with children must attend Safe Environment training. This provides a greater understanding of adults’ role as protectors of children, models of appropriate behavior and advocates for those who are most vulnerable. To date, 40,000 individuals have participated in Safe Environment training. In addition, almost 110,000 young people have received grade-appropriate lessons concerning personal boundaries and healthy relationships.

• The Archdiocese established a Victims Assistance Coordinators Program. Our coordinators are licensed professionals who respond with appropriate care to those victimized by sexual abuse.

• I have offered to meet with any victims, just as my predecessor, Cardinal Bevilacqua did.

The Archdiocese has learned from the victims. We heard their stories and recognized that we cannot be the only investigators in cases of clergy sexual abuse. That is why, since 2002, the Archdiocese has reported every allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to law enforcement authorities.

Even before the Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was adopted in 2002, the Archdiocese immediately suspended the ministry of a priest credibly accused of sexual misconduct with a minor. After sending an accused priest to a facility specializing in such cases, the Archdiocese received a psychological evaluation of the priest and in those cases followed the facility’s recommendation either to bar the priest permanently from ministry or return him to ministry. Today the medical community better understands abusive behaviors. The Archdiocese now holds to zero tolerance: no priest who has sexually abused a minor will serve in any ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

When the Philadelphia district attorney announced in 2002 an investigation, which was to include “other religious orders, organizations and denominations,” the Archdiocese cooperated fully, producing in excess of 45,000 documents and supplementing these 30 times with additional material. Representatives of the Archdiocese testified on numerous occasions.

It is my sincere hope that what we have done will benefit the entire community in helping to understand and root out the terrible reality of sexual abuse of children and young people and that other groups and institutions will take some of the same precautionary steps that the Archdiocese is using.

Though this moment in the life of the Church and in our society is cause for sadness, I firmly believe it will be transformed by the power of God into a time of heightened awareness and a renewed commitment to keep all children as safe as is humanly possible.