Diocese of
Birmingham, Alabama
The Diocese of Birmingham (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1969, encompasses 39 counties in northern Alabama. It consists of 57 parishes and missions and 23 elementary and secondary schools and serves a population of 88,515 registered Catholics with 45 deacons and 53 diocesan priests. The Most Reverend David E. Foley, who was installed as bishop in 1994, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of September 22-25, 2003.

The information presented below 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 had a prevention policy on sexual abuse of minors since 1992; it was revised in June 2000 and August 2002 and is titled Guidelines for the Response to Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse and the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. This policy provides for an outreach program designed to provide immediate pastoral care to victims/survivors and their families. A Commendation was issued recognizing the Diocese for its early preparation of this policy and its awareness of the issues involved. The Diocese has a victim assistance coordinator, Albert Manzella, who has a master’s degree in social work and is the executive director of Catholic Social Services. A lay review board was established in 2002, consisting of one priest and ten respected members of the community, including three people with an expertise in mental health, social work, and related fields plus three people with legal backgrounds. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed form. The Diocese has entered into no confidentiality agreements since June 2002, unless requested by the victim/survivor.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has had limited contact with local civil authorities regarding sexual abuse allegations, because no allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been reported to the Diocese since June 2002. The Diocese does have a procedure for advising victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy to civil authorities. The Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons. The Diocese has a communications policy, reflecting 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 developed a series of safe environment seminars for presentation to adults having regular contact with children and has been providing this training since 2001; however, records are not maintained to identify the priests who have received training. A Recommendation was made for the Diocese to document the training provided to its priests. As mentioned above, 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 completed background investigations on all adults and volunteers who come into contact with children. However, not all members of the clergy have had background evaluations completed. An Instruction was written requiring all members of the clergy to have background checks completed immediately. The Diocese had transferred one priest who had a credible allegation of sexual abuse lodged against him to another diocese for residence, and the bishop of that diocese is aware of his presence and background. The bishop of Birmingham and the major superiors of orders having a presence in the Diocese have coordinated their respective roles regarding issues of allegations of sexual abuse made against a clerical member of a religious institute. The Diocese has not had an opportunity 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 established a program for priestly formation.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Birmingham was issued one Instruction, one Recommendation, and one Commendation.

INSTRUCTION—The Diocese will complete the background checks of all diocesan priests.

RECOMMENDATION—That the Diocese document the safe environment training provided to clergy personnel.

COMMENDATION—For the Diocese’s early recognition of the problem of sexual abuse of minors and its establishment of a policy regarding these issues in 1992.

As of December 1, 2003, all Recommendations had been addressed. The Diocese of Birmingham 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