Diocese of
Fairbanks, Alaska
The Diocese of Fairbanks (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1962, encompasses the northern part of Alaska. It consists of 48 parishes and missions and one elementary and secondary school, and it serves a population of 18,931 registered Catholics with 37 deacons, 14 religious priests, and nine diocesan priests. The Most Reverend Donald Kettler, installed as bishop in 2002, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of August 18-22, 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 misconduct since 1993; it was revised in 2003 to conform to the Charter and is still in effect. Added to it is the policy Faithful Healing: Preventing and Responding to Ministry-Related Child Sexual Abuse. This policy provides for an outreach program designed to provide immediate pastoral care to victims/survivors and their families. The Diocese has a victim assistance coordinator, Fr. Richard D. Case, who also serves as chancellor and as a member of the diocesan review board. A Recommendation was written suggesting that another competent person be identified and named as victim assistance coordinator. A lay review board was established in 2002, consisting of one priest and seven respected members of the community, including a psychologist/therapist, a counselor, and two attorneys. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed form, contained in the above policy; but the aforementioned Recommendation also suggested the preparation of a separate document outlining the procedures. The Diocese has entered into no confidentiality agreements since June 2002. A Commendation was written regarding the early development of a policy, the prompt establishment of a review board in response to the Charter, and the distribution of the policy.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has established liaison with local civil authorities regarding sexual abuse allegations, and its policy provides for immediate reporting of allegations to the appropriate authorities. The Diocese has in its policy a procedure for advising victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy to civil authorities, and a Recommendation was issued to suggest developing a separate document. The Diocese is still establishing a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons, but the policies are tacitly understood. The Diocese has a communications policy and practice 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 is developing a series of safe environment seminars for presentation to adults having regular contact with children and for the children themselves. As mentioned above, the Diocese is establishing 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 is developing a procedure for completing background investigations on all members of the clergy and on all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. The Diocese has not transferred any priests or deacons who have had credible allegations of sexual abuse lodged against them to any other diocese for ministerial assignment or residence since June 2002. The bishop and the major superiors of an order having a presence in the Diocese 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 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 an ongoing formation program for priests.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

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

RECOMMENDATION—That a new victim assistance coordinator, other than the chancellor, be identified and selected to avoid any possible conflicts; and that a separate document, containing information on how to take complaints of abuse and address the complaint, be prepared, even though the information is also contained in the policy.

COMMENDATION—For the 1993 development of a prevention policy on dealing with sexual misconduct, for its revision to conform to the Charter, and for its effective distribution.

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