Diocese of
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Diocese of Baton Rouge (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1961, encompasses 12 Louisiana civil parishes. It consists of 68 Catholic parishes and 32 schools, has 40 deacons, 76 diocesan priests, and serves a population of 221,424 registered Catholics. The Most Reverend Robert Muench, who was installed as bishop in 2002, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of August 25-29, 2003.

The information presented below represents conditions as they were found to exist during the week of the audit.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has established an outreach program. The bishop has met or offered to meet with all victims/ survivors. The victim assistance coordinator is Fr. David Allen. The diocesan review board was established in 2002 and consists of ten members, including a priest and respected members of the community. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed form. There have been no confidentiality agreements entered into by the Diocese since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has established effective liaison with local civil authorities, ensuring open dialogue regarding sexual abuse allegations. The Diocese has a procedure in place to advise victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of abuse by a member of the clergy to civil authorities. The Diocese has established a code of conduct for priests and deacons. The Diocese has a communications policy that reflects the bishop’s pledge to be open and transparent on issues regarding the sexual abuse of children.

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 implemented a safe environment program consisting of training sessions for parents, teachers, clergy, and employees that are conducted by a noted sexual abuse concerns expert. Seminars are regularly televised on the diocesan television station. The Diocese has publicized standards of conduct for priests and deacons, as well as diocesan employees, volunteers, and any other church personnel in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. The Diocese has established procedures, including the use of law enforcement resources, for evaluating the background of all personnel having regular contact with minors. The Diocese has not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of sexual abuse lodged against him to another diocese for ministerial assignment or for residence. The bishop, or his delegate, and the major superiors have coordinated their respective roles regarding issues of allegations of sexual abuse made against a cleric member of a religious institute. The Diocese has not had the opportu-nity to cooperate with other churches, religious bodies, and institutions of learning in conducting research in the area of sexual abuse of minors. The Diocese has established screening and evaluative techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination and formation programs for priests.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Baton Rouge was found to be compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 in Section I, and issued one Commendation.

COMMENDATION—For the establishment of a sexual abuse prevention policy in 1989.


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