Diocese of
Beaumont, Texas
The Diocese of Beaumont (“the Diocese”), which was established on September 29, 1966, encompasses nine counties in southeast Texas. It consists of 45 parishes, seven schools, 30 deacons, and 47 diocesan priests and serves a population of 94,780 registered Catholics. The Most Reverend Curtis J. Guillory, who was installed as bishop on July 28, 2000, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of September 8-12, 2003.

The information found herein represents conditions as they were found to exist during the week of the audit. Information regarding necessary 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 history of properly addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy, dating back to the 1980s but more inclusively since 1996, with its first written ethics policy. This outreach program was revised on April 1, 2003, to conform to the requirements of the Charter. The Diocese was commended for its foresight in creating and revising these policies. Although no allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been reported since June 2002, the bishop has met with victims/survivors reporting such allegations prior to that date. Br. Bernard Palmeri serves as the victim assistance coordinator and is well qualified for the position. Palmeri also serves as the Catholic school and family counselor. The diocesan review board consists of eight individuals: five lay members, two priests, and one woman religious. The lay members include a director in the Beaumont Independent School District a clinical psychologist, a clinical social worker, the City of Beaumont controller, and an attorney. At the time of the audit, the board had not appointed its chairperson or formalized its internal rules and procedures. A Recommendation was issued suggesting these two matters be addressed. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed form and appear on the diocesan website and in the diocesan newspaper, the East Texas Catholic. 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 civil authorities, ensuring an open dialogue regarding allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy. To strengthen this relationship, the Diocese mailed a copy of its policies and website information to the Beaumont district attorney and the Beaumont chief of police. The Diocese has in effect a procedure to advise victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy or other church personnel to civil authorities. The Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for clergy and church personnel. The Diocese has a communications policy that reflects the bishop’s commitment to openness and transparency regarding matters of sexual abuse. This is evidenced by the Diocese’s press releases regarding historical (pre-June 2002) allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy.

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 selected and implemented a safe environment program utilizing the VIRTUS program Protecting God’s Children. The Diocese has published standards of conduct for priests and deacons, as well as diocesan employees, volunteers, and all other church personnel in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. The Diocese has not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of child sexual abuse made against him for ministerial assignment, nor has such a cleric been transferred or left the diocese for purposes of residency in another diocese. There are no clerical institutes within the Diocese; however, the bishop meets regularly with delegates of the religious order priests in the Diocese and has discussed responses to such allegation with them. The bishop is open to conducting research regarding sexual abuse of minors with other faiths or institutions of learning, but the opportunities have not arisen. The Diocese has established an excellent screening and evaluation process for the selection of candidates for ordination. The Diocese has a systematic, ongoing formation program in keeping with the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (2001).¹

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of the audit, the Diocese of Beaumont was issued one Recommendation and one Commendation.

RECOMMENDATION—That a chairperson be named for the review board, and that the board formalize internal rules and procedures to assist in the performance of its duties.

COMMENDATION—For the Diocese’s forward-thinking regarding the prevention of sexual abuse of minors and the development and subsequent revision of an excellent Ethical and Responsible Conduct Policy.

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

Note

1. USCCB, Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2001).

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