Local
Archdiocese found in compliance with the 'Charter'

By Pilot Staff
Posted: 4/15/2011

BRAINTREE -- The Archdiocese of Boston announced April 12 that it has been found in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

The Gavin Group, Inc., an independent firm retained by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, completed an independent, data collection audit of the archdiocese's compliance with the provisions of the Charter, the child protection policy adopted by the USCCB in 2002. The Gavin Group determined the archdiocese to be in compliance with the Charter.

The audit evaluated the archdiocese's efforts to satisfy requirements relating to reporting and responding to allegations of sexual abuse, promoting healing and reconciliation with survivors and those harmed by clergy sexual abuse, ensuring that archdiocesan and religious priests, deacons, educators, volunteers and other personnel are properly screened through CORI background evaluations and conducting safe environment training for adults who work with children and child abuse prevention education for the children attending Catholic schools and parish religious education programs.

Over the course of the audit, the archdiocese noted to The Gavin Group that approximately 99 percent (approximately 144,000) of children have received a child safety curriculum in school or in a religious education program. Approximately 1,400 children in religious education, which is approximately 1 percent of the total number of children to be trained, did not complete the safety training. As the letter issued by The Gavin Group to the archdiocese states, the goal is for all children to be trained. The archdiocese, through its Office of Child Advocacy, Implementation and Oversight, continues to work closely with its parishes to ensure that all children receive child safety education and that the parishes continue to provide the archdiocese with the appropriate documentation relating to the trainings completed.

"Protecting our children is one of our most important responsibilities," stated Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley. "We must continue to work diligently and do everything possible to assure their safety and restore the confidence of the faithful in the Church."

Additional information about the audit can be found at www.usccb.org. The Gavin Group's letter relating to the archdiocese's 2010 results is available at www.bostoncatholic.org.