Report lists dioceses not in full compliance with bishops' charter

Published: 2004-01-06

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In the first annual audit of 191 dioceses for compliance with the bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," the independent auditors found 52 dioceses already in full compliance, according to the audit report released Jan. 6. Auditors issued instructions -- notices of noncompliance on one or more of the 17 articles of the charter -- to 57 dioceses. They issued recommendations -- notices that there was basic compliance but it was incomplete or could be improved in certain areas -- to 125 dioceses. The figures overlap because some dioceses got instructions on some articles and recommendations on others. Of the 139 dioceses that received instructions and/or recommendations, 105 followed up before the end of the year with evidence that they had made the changes needed to bring them into compliance or to improve their weaknesses. The remaining 34 did not provide such evidence before the Dec. 12 deadline for inclusion in the first national report on the audit results.

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