Some dioceses cited in national audit for exemplary practices

Published: 2004-01-07

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Besides listing flaws and weaknesses, the national report on the sexual abuse response audits of U.S. dioceses also highlighted exemplary policies, personnel and practices that auditors found in many dioceses. The 418-page report -- the first in what is intended to be a series of annual audit reports -- was released at a press conference in Washington Jan. 6. The audits were conducted last June to November by investigators of the Boston-based Gavin Group, composed mainly of former FBI agents. In conjunction with the report's release the bishops' national Office for Child and Youth Protection released three lists of dioceses which the auditors considered particularly notable for their overall sex abuse and prevention program, their safe environment programs or the quality of their victims' assistance coordinators. Cited for overall strong programs in implementing the bishops' 2002 "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" were the Chicago and Seattle archdioceses and the dioceses of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind.; Pittsburgh; Providence, R.I.; Rapid City, S.D.; St. Cloud, Minn.; and San Bernardino, Calif.

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