Diocese of
Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown (“the Diocese”), located in the Allegheny Mountains of central-western Pennsylvania, comprises eight counties with a Catholic population of more than 110,000. The Diocese, established in 1901, has been led by Bishop Joseph V. Adamec since May 1987. There are 103 active diocesan priests and 30 permanent deacons. The Diocese has 99 parishes, including three in prisons, plus 24 elementary schools, three high schools, and two universities and colleges. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of July 21-25, 2003.

The following describes conditions evident during the week of the audit. Information on corrective actions taken by the Diocese subsequent to the audit will be found in the last paragraph.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has a documented outreach program with provision for specific assistance to victims/survivors, found in several publications, including Policies and Procedures for Response to Allegations of Sexual Abuse, a victim advocate brochure, and website presentation. An Instruction directed that those policies be reviewed and appropriately modified to ensure consistency and full compliance with the Charter. The bishop, or his designee, has met or offered to meet with victims/survivors who have reported allegations of sexual abuse since June 2002. Msgr. Saly, Director of Catholic Social Services, is the victims assistance coordinator. Sr. Marilyn Welch is the victim advocate coordinator and director of the Protecting God’s Children program. Sr. Welch is a registered nurse and has extensive experience and education in pastoral counseling. A five-member review board, established in April 2002, is guided by allegation review board policy and procedures. The Diocese has not entered into any confidentiality agreements since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with civil authorities regarding cases involving the sexual abuse of minors. Two relevant diocesan policy and procedures documents did not contain any reference to the need to advise victims/survivors of their right to report to public authorities. Accordingly, an Instruction directed that existing policy statements be amended to include that information. Standards of conduct for clergy and other personnel with regular contact with children are included in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Protecting God’s Children Program Code of Pastoral Conduct. The Diocese has an established a communications policy that affirms trans-parency and openness.

To Ensure Accountability of Procedures
The Diocese has participated in the research study regarding the “nature and scope” of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.

To Protect the Faithful in the Future
The Diocese has adopted the VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children program as its safe environment program. The Diocese utilizes appropriate screening forms and the Pennsylvania State Police to conduct background evaluations on diocesan personnel who have regular contact with children and young people. Screening and evaluation procedures are used in evaluating the fitness of candidates for ordination. No clergy accused of a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been transferred or taken up residence away from the Diocese since June 2002 for either ministerial or residence purposes. The bishop has met with or been in contact with his major superior counterparts to coordinate their respective roles in responding to allegations covered by the Charter. The Diocese has ongoing formation programs for the development of diocesan clergy.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown was issued two Instructions.

INSTRUCTION 1—Existing policy statements for handling allegations of sexual abuse will be reviewed and appropriately modified to ensure consistency and compliance with the Charter.

INSTRUCTION 2—The existing policy for handling allegations of sexual abuse should be amended to include a provision for advising a victim/survivor that he or she also has a right to contact the public authorities.

As of December 1, 2003, the two Instructions had been addressed. The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is found to be compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 in Section I.


The compliance audit measured activity that has occurred since the adoption of the Charter in June 2002 with the exception of certain mandated actions found in Articles 5 and 14. Actions taken by the diocese/eparchy prior to June 2002 to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests and deacons are not included in this summary report.




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Office of Child and Youth Protection
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194
(202) 541-5413 | FAX: (202) 541-5410
Email: ocyp@usccb.org