April is Prevent Child Abuse Month at the USCCB

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By Colleen Gudreau

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

The image chosen by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for their poster "Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal" is a powerful symbol of the goal of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The image is split: the largest section shows a group of adults and children joyfully gathered together in the sunlight; the smaller section shows a young person standing alone in shadow. One of the adults extends a hand across the dividing line to invite the young person into the light. For Catholics, this symbol evokes an understanding not only of the impact that abuse has had on the body of Christ, but also the underlying goal of the Charter.

In 2002, in response to the clergy sexual abuse of minors, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The charter only applies to clergy, i.e., priests and deacons, who have been accused of the sexual abuse of a child or a person who habitually lacks the use of reason, or child pornography. However, the charter also requires dioceses to develop Safe Environment Programs to protect children from harm by all Church personnel.

These programs not only pertain to the offenses included in the charter, but also to child abuse, as defined by the state in which the diocese is located, and apply to all laity who regularly work with children as well as clergy. Diocesan programs mandate reporting of all allegations of child abuse to the appropriate state agency. In addition to reporting allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy, there is also a specific canonical process that must be followed, including an investigation and penal procedure. Allegations against laity are reported to the appropriate state agency that is responsible for investigating the alleged offense. In addition, allegations of abuse by Church personnel or which occur on diocesan property must be reported to the diocesan Office of Safe Environment or the vicar general. Pending the outcome of any investigation, the services of the alleged perpetrator may be suspended.

Allegations of child abuse by another child must also be reported. Some interactions are always abusive but, often, it is difficult to determine when "normal" childhood "horsing around" reaches the threshold of abuse. Some factors to be considered are the nature of the interaction, the age of the children involved and the reaction of the children, especially the more vulnerable child, to the interaction. Sometimes, but not always, the children themselves are good gauges of the interaction. If one of them is anxious, fearful or expresses negative feelings about the interaction or the other child, there is a possibility that it is bullying or hazing or abuse. On the other hand, some children are so fearful of retaliation that they will not express their true feelings. In any case, when there is "reasonable suspicion" that a child is abusing another child, this abuse must be reported to the appropriate state agencies. If the suspension of a child is warranted to ensure the safety of another child, it should be limited to the activity in which the alleged abuse occurred.

Although all allegations of child abuse must be reported, some allegations involve behavior that is inappropriate, but may not meet the threshold of child abuse. In the interest of transparency, diocesan personnel have the obligation to report every allegation of child abuse that meets a level of "reasonable suspicion" to the appropriate state agency. Investigations into the circumstances relating to the allegation or the validity of the allegation should be left to competent authorities.

Protecting the privacy and good name of all parties involved, both the person claiming to have been abused and the person against whom the allegation of abuse has been made, is also important. During the period of the investigation, there is little that can be disclosed to anyone, only that an allegation has been made that diocesan safe environment policy requires to be reported to the appropriate state agency.

Although holding people accountable for their actions, reporting allegations of child abuse and transparency in reporting are three important goals of Diocesan Safe Environment Programs, the overarching goal of the Charter is the healing and restoration of those children who have been sexually abused by clergy. In order to achieve this goal, every Catholic must work toward a fuller understanding of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy.

In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI invited representatives of bishops’ conferences throughout the world, individuals representing women and men religious, Eastern Churches in communion with Rome, rectors of Roman colleges and Catholic universities, canon lawyers, psychotherapists, psychiatrists and educators to participate in a symposium on the sexual abuse of minors. More than 220 individuals participated in the symposium which was held at the Pontifical Gregorian University. This international symposium was intended to be an important step forward in the long and painful journey that the Church has undertaken to deal with what Pope Benedict has called the "open wound" of abuse. The organizers of the symposium intended to achieve three goals: "(a) to give a voice to the victims of abuse and to name honestly the failures, the sins, and the crimes that had occurred in the Church; (b) to contribute to a culture of listening and learning, so as to work together in the future to seek solutions to the problems of abuse; and 3) to collaborate with the media and make it known what can be done to protect the weakest from aggression." (Toward Healing and Renewal, Charles J. Scicluna, Hans Zollner and David John Ayotte, editors, Paulist Press, 2012)

In his Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland speaking to the victims of sexual abuse by clergy, Pope Benedict said "You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured. Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated." These words remind all Catholics of the depth of the suffering and betrayal young Catholics who were sexually abused by clergy have experienced. As the image in the "Promise to Protect/Pledge to Heal" poster portrays, many of these abused children, who are now adults, still live in the shadow of the memory of their abuse. Will you extend a hand and invite them into the light?

Colleen Gudreau is the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s victim assistance coordinator/Safe Environment.