A Safe Environment Policy for the Diocese of London

Catholics believe that our baptism makes us members of the People of God and members of the faith community we know as the Church. The protection of children and vulnerable persons is part of the very mission of the Church, because it enables all members of the community to practice their faith in a safe environment, confident that all the faithful are committed to their protection and well being.
 
Sexual misconduct is always a tragedy and calls for the Diocese to respond with justice and compassion toward all those persons involved. Our primary concern must be for the victim.
 
The development and implementation of this policy has as its goals, the prevention of sexual abuse, the protection of the vulnerable, the pastoral care of those wounded by misconduct, along with the acknowledgment of the legal rights of the accused and the appropriate action toward those who have committed sexual misconduct.
 
The Diocese expects its bishops, priests, deacons, lay personnel and volunteers to live chaste and moral lives, respecting in every way the integrity of the other. Inappropriate sexual activity abuses the power and authority of the pastoral role of all who work for the people of God and serve them. For all to grow in personal holiness is the first goal of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
 
The Diocese will co-operate with the criminal and civil judicial systems, subject to the inviolability of the sacramental seal.

This policy is intended to inform clergy, employees and volunteers about their obligations and to ensure that they comply with civil, canonical, diocesan and other appropriate standards of conduct. Procedures and personnel are in place to deal in a timely fashion with any complaints of misconduct that may arise.
 
This policy and its procedures apply to instances of sexual misconduct as defined below whether current, recent, or in the distant past.
 
Nothing in this policy and the procedures, or their application, is intended to discourage or prevent anyone from seeking legal or ecclesiastical remedies.
 
This policy will be reviewed every three years by the Bishop’s Delegate following consultation with the Misconduct Committee.

A victim always has a primary claim upon our pastoral concern and support, especially, when that victim is a minor. Studies indicate that minors are especially vulnerable, that their sexual abuse can be traumatic, damaging to their spiritual, moral, psychological, and interpersonal development, and long lasting. It can also alienate them from the Church and from religion.
 
Parents and siblings of victims often experience anger, shock, betrayal, and disillusionment. They too have a right to the pastoral concern and support of the Diocese.
 
Public authorities are obliged to enact and enforce appropriate legislation to protect minors from abuse. The Diocese will respect and comply with such legislation. Thus, knowledge of complaints involving minors always requires immediate response.

inform the person that he/she himself/herself does not have the authority to resolve such matters. He/she should not comment on the credibility of these complaints nor attempt to resolve the complaint. He/she should inform the complainant that the recipient must report the complaint to the Bishop’s Delegate. He/she shall offer assistance in contacting the Bishop’s delegate.
 
Personal discretion is not to be exercised in fulfilling these reporting obligations.

The Diocese is committed to preventing misconduct by all possible means including:
 

• Regularly providing ongoing formation for all seminarians, diaconate candidates, deacons and priests on issues of friendship, intimacy, psychosexual development, and religious chastity and celibacy as well as issues related to addiction and sobriety;

• Informing seminarians, diaconate candidates, deacons, priests, lay employees and volunteers about this Diocesan policy and procedures governing all aspects of misconduct;

• Ensuring that all seminarians, diaconate candidates, deacons, priests, lay employees and volunteers understand that they must respect and obey canonical, diocesan, civil and other appropriate standards of conduct;

• Putting into place the procedures and personnel to effectively deal with complaints of misconduct in a timely fashion, and with the consequences of incidents of misconduct.

Screening plays an essential role in our efforts to prevent misconduct and the misuse of power.
                               
St. Peter’s Seminary is responsible for developing and administering psychological and other screening processes for:
 

• Candidates for Master of Divinity
• Candidates for the permanent diaconate
• Candidates for the priesthood

 
St. Peter’s Seminary has a written protocol for psychological testing of seminarians, Master of Divinity candidates and permanent diaconate candidates, which has been carried out for many years.
 
The Personnel Office is responsible for developing and administering psychological and other screening processes for:
 

• Admission of priests ordained outside the Diocese
• Incardination of priests ordained outside the Diocese
• Admission of permanent deacons ordained outside the Diocese
• Incardination of permanent deacons ordained outside the Diocese
• Employees of the Diocese

 
The Diocesan Personnel Office has a written protocol, “Called, Gifted and Sent,” for diocesan and parochial employees and volunteers whose roles place them in high risk ministry. This document details a risk management program.
 
The Diocese acknowledges that design of facilities plays an essential role in the prevention of misconduct. This will be addressed by the Diocesan Building Commission in the approval of major renovations and in the construction of new facilities.

• The Bishop’s Delegate
• The Misconduct Committee

Minutes of all Misconduct Committee meetings will be recorded.
 
The Misconduct Committee will be responsible for reviewing this policy.

• offer compassionate regard for the individual and his/her

• gather information about the individual’s experience
• commit to providing a response on behalf of the Diocese within a reasonable time
• offer pastoral care

Where the alleged misconduct does not involve a minor or vulnerable person, whether the accused individual is to be relieved of duties and responsibilities, pending further investigation, will depend upon the circumstances of the case.
 
When the accused is found not guilty in a criminal court, the ordinary expectation is reassignment to previous responsibilities, if all suspicions have been removed. However, sometimes information is known to the police which is not admissible as evidence in a court of law, but which creates serious concern about the culpability of the accused. It is important to understand that a finding of “not guilty” is not the same as a finding of innocence, and, therefore, the reassignment of an individual following an acquittal is not automatic, but will be determined by the Bishop in consultation with the Bishop’s Delegate and the Director of Priest Personnel.
 
When an accused priest admits that he has sexually abused a minor or if found guilty of the sexual abuse of a minor in a court, he will not be returned to active ministry, and a plan for his future activities will be determined by the Bishop’s Delegate in consultation with the Director of Priest Personnel.
 
Communications
The Communications Director [Communications Officer] will manage the communications plan for the Diocese concerning a misconduct case. As far as is feasible, only this person shall discuss the case with the media or communicate in any other public context. The Bishop’s Delegate could also fulfill this role.

1.     The implementation of the “Two Deep” rule is to be the common practice. Clergy, Lay Ecclesial Ministers and staff are not to be alone with a child.
 
2.   Access to priests’ living quarters is to be restricted. Priests are not to be alone with minors in their living quarters or motor vehicle.
 
3.    Priests will never take a person under 18 on personal trips or vacations.
 
4.     Expensive gifts are not to be given to or accepted from a child or young or vulnerable person.
 
5.    Clergy, Lay Ecclesial Ministers and staff will accept the responsibility to set reasonable boundaries in their relationships with others.
 
6.    One-on-one private meetings with adults are to be conducted in a space with clear glass openings.
 
7.     Two adults are to be present for recreational programs. The Guidelines for Volunteer Ministers (Called, Gifted & Sent) are to be followed.
 
8.    The preparation of children for the celebration of the sacraments of first reconciliation, first communion and confirmation is to be conducted in a group format. One on one instruction is not allowed.
 
9.    The celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation with minors is to be celebrated in an open space that allows the penitent and the priest to be in full view of others or in a traditional confessional with a clear glass opening in the door.
 
10.  The location of reconciliation rooms is to be in a high traffic area of the church building. Any new construction or renovation of reconciliation rooms is to provide for clear glass openings.