Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection · Almighty and most loving God, through your Son. your compassion brought healing to many. We ask for your healing once more. for all who

Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection

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Almighty and most loving God,through your Sonyour compassion brought healing to many.

We ask for your healing once morefor all who have been profoundly wounded by abuse,especially those who have been hurt by your ministers.

In your goodness,we ask for the graceto be a source of healingto all who have been abusedand to be ever vigilantin protecting all your people.

Grant, we pray,our prayers for healing and forgiveness,for we ask them through your Son,Christ our Lord. AmenCopyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC.

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PDF version available online at www.usccb.org/charter

Printed version currently being finalized• Notice will be sent out to the CYP community when final

version is available for purchase via the USCCB online store

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http://www.usccb.org/charter

The revisions to the Charter will NOT be audited for the current 2018 audit cycle

Audit Workgroup• Currently reviewing Request’s for Proposals for potential new

audit vendor• Reviewing current audit instrument for possible revisions

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Began in 2013 Collaborating entities

• Bishops and diocesan priests councils• Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People• National Review Board• Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance• Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations• Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth• USCCB General Counsel• Feedback from Safe Environment and Victim Assistance Coordinators and other diocesan

personnel• Conf. of Major Superior’s of Men, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Conf. of Major

Superior’s of Women Religious Working Group created specifically for the revision

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Bishops submitted feedback and changes

Modifications and amendments to the document

Main feedback• The document works – keep the main components• Only make minimal changes

Still up to each local ordinary to implement the Charter in his diocese/eparchy

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Notes: Pages and paragraph numbers listed are based on the 2018 PDF version available online at www.usccb.org/charter

¶ - refers to the paragraph number

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http://www.usccb.org/charter

Clarified clerics as “priests and deacons” (per syntax)

Added “eparchy” so new version consistently states “diocese/eparchy”

Changed asterisks (*) to superscripts (¹)

As applicable, changed “child and youth” to “minor”

Changed “His Holiness” to “St.” John Paul II

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Page & ¶

Former Version 2018 Revisions

P. 2¶ 1

Bishops’ “General Meeting” Bishops’ “Plenary Assembly”

P. 2¶ 1

Revised in 2011, second revision

Revised in 2018, third revision

P. 2¶ 1

General Secretary was Msgr. David J. Malloy

General Secretary is Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield

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Page & ¶


P. 3¶ 1

“…have caused enormous pain, anger, and confusion.”

Added “…for victims, their families, and the entire Church.”

P. 3¶ 2

Added as new paragraph “We share Pope Francis’ “conviction that everything possible must be done to rid the Church of the scourge of the sexual abuse of minors and to open pathways of reconciliation and healing for those who were abused” (Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences and Superiors of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Concerning the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, February 2, 2015).”

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Page & ¶


P. 3¶ 3

“…we re-affirm our deep commitment to creating a safe environment…”

“…we re-affirm our deep commitment to sustain and strengthen a safe environment…”

P. 3¶ 3

Commissioned causes and context study

Added “We will use what we have learned to strengthen the protection given to the children and young people in our care.”

P. 4¶ 1

“We apologize to them for the grave harm…”

“We apologize to each victim for the grave harm…”

P. 4¶ 1

“…and we offer our help for the future.”

“…and we offer our help now and for the future.”

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Page & ¶


P. 4¶ 1

Ended with “…an appalling sin in the eyes of God.”

Added “We will continue to help victims recover from these crimes and strive to prevent these tragedies from occurring.”

P. 4¶ 2

“…being misunderstood in their ministry and even the possibility of false accusations.”

“…being misunderstood in their ministry and often casts over them an undeserved air of suspicion.”

P. 4¶ 3

“Words alone cannot accomplish this goal. It will begin with the actions wetake…”

“We have seen that words alone cannot accomplish this goal. We will continue to take action…”

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P. 5¶ 1

“…we have felt the power of sin touch our entire Church…

“…we feel the power of sin touch our entire Church…”

P. 5¶ 3

Added “In solidarity with Pope Francis, we express heartfelt love and sorrow for the victims of abuse.”

P. 5¶ 6

“In a special way, we acknowledge thosevictims…”

“In a special way, we acknowledge and thank victims…”

P. 5¶ 6

Ended with “…violation of sacred trust.”

Added “With Pope Francis, we praise the courage of those who speak out about their abuse; their actions are “a service of love, since for us it sheds light on a terrible darkness in the life of the church.” We pray that “the remnants of the darkness which touch them may be healed” (Address to Victims of Sexual Abuse, July 7, 2014).

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P. 7¶ 6

Ended with “Causes and Context study.”

Added “The Study, which calls for ongoing education, situational prevention, and oversight and accountability, was completed in 2011.”

P. 8¶ 3

“While it seems that the scope of this disturbing problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy has been reduced over the last decade…”

“While the number of reported cases of sexual abuse has decreased over the last sixteen years…”

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P. 9¶ 4

“The procedures for making a complaint are to be readily available in printed form…”

“The procedures for those making a complaint are to be readily available in printed form and other media…”

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P. 10¶ 3

“…report an allegation of sexual abuse of a person who is a minor to the public authorities.”

Added “…with due regard for the seal of the Sacrament of Penance.”

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P. 10¶ 6

Ended with “…no place in the priesthood or religious life for those who would harm the young.”

Added “Pope Francis has consistently reiterated this with victims of clergy sexual abuse.”

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P. 11¶ 6

“…standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy and for any other paid personnel and volunteers of the Church in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people.”

“… standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy and for any other paid personnel and volunteers of the Church with regard to their contact with minors.”

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P. 12¶ 5

Ended with “…compliance with the provisions and expectations of the Charter.”

Added sentence “The audit method refers to the process and techniques used to determine compliance with the Charter. The audit scope relates to the focus, parameters, and time period for the matters to be examined during an individual audit.”

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P. 13¶ 6

“…on matters of child and youth protection, specifically on polices and best practices.”

Added sentence “For example, the Board will continue to monitor the recommendations derived from the Causes and Context study.”

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P. 14¶ 4

“…to provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, volunteers and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people.”

“…to provide education and training for minors, parents, ministers, employees, volunteers, and others about ways to sustain and foster a safe environment for minors.”

P. 14¶ 4

“…standards of conduct for clergy and other persons in positions of trust with regard to children.”

“… standards of conduct for clergy and other persons with regard to their contact with minors.”

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P. 14¶ 5

“Dioceses/eparchies are to evaluate the background of all incardinated and non-incardinated priests and deacons who are engaged in ecclesiastical ministry in the diocese/eparchy and of all diocesan/eparchial and parish/school or other paid personnel and volunteers whose duties include ongoing, unsupervised contact with minors.”

“The Diocesan/eparchial bishop is to evaluate the background of all incardinated priests and deacons. When a priest or deacon, not incardinated in the diocese/eparchy, is to engage in ministry in the diocese/eparchy, regardless of the length of time, the evaluation of his background may be satisfied through a written attestation of suitability for ministry supplied by his proper ordinary/major superior to the diocese/eparchy. Dioceses/eparchies are to evaluate the background of all their respective diocesan/eparchial and parish/school or other paid personnel and volunteers whose duties include contact with minors.”(continued on next slide)

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P. 15¶ 1

“Specifically, they are to utilize the resources of law enforcement and other community agencies. In addition, they are to employ adequate screening and evaluative techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates for ordination (cf. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Program of Priestly Formation [Fifth Edition], 2006, no. 39).”

“Specifically, they are to utilize the resources of law enforcement and other community agencies. Each diocese/eparchy is to determine the application/renewal of background checks according to local practice. In addition, they are to employ adequate screening and evaluative techniques in deciding the fitness of candidates for ordination (See United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Program of Priestly Formation [Fifth Edition], 2006, no. 39 and the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, n.178 j).²”

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P. 16¶ 1

“…the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.”

Added “as well as similar, appropriate programs for deacons based upon the criteria found in the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States.”

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P. 16¶ 5

“It is with reliance on prayer and penance that we review the pledges…”

“It is with reliance on the grace of God and in a spirit of prayer and penance that we renew the pledges…”

P. 17¶ 4

“It is to be reviewed again after two years…”

“It is to be reviewed again after sevenyears…”

P. 17¶ 4

Ended with “The results of this review are to be presented to the full Conference of Bishops for confirmation.”

Added “Authoritative interpretations of its provisions are reserved to the Conference of Bishops.”

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P. 18¶ 3

Ended with “If there is any doubt…” paragraph.

Added as final paragraph note 2 “In 2009, after consultation with members of the USCCB Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and approval from the USCCB Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, additional Model Letters of Suitability, now available on the USCCB website, were agreed upon and published for use by bishops and major superiors in situations which involve both temporary and extended ministry for clerics.”

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Any change in the Essential Norms would need to be approved by the Holy See

Booklet version of revised Charter is currently being finalized• Notification will be sent to CYP community when available

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Dcn. Bernie Nojadera• Executive Director• 202-541-5418• [email protected]

Melanie Takinen• Associate Director• 202-541-3411• [email protected]

Drew Dillingham• Coordinator for Resources and Special Projects• 202-541-3094• [email protected]

Laura Garner• Executive Assistant• 202-541-5413• [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]




Documents

Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection · Almighty and most loving God, through your Son. your compassion brought healing to many. We ask for your healing once more. for all who