Diocese of
Fall River, Massachusetts
The Diocese of Fall River (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1904, encompasses four counties in southeastern Massachusetts. It consists of 101 parishes and 28 schools and serves a population of 346,054 registered Catholics with 90 deacons and 133 diocesan priests. The Most Reverend George W. Coleman, who was installed as bishop in 2003, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of October 20-24,2003.

The information set forth 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 established an outreach program. The bishop, his predecessor, or their designees have met or offered to meet with victims/survivors of abuse in the Diocese who have reported abuse since June 2002. The victim assistance coordinator is Arlene McNamee, who is a certified, licensed social worker. The diocesan review board was established in 1994 and has seven members, including one priest and six respected members of the community. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are not readily available in printed form. A Recommendation was made that the Diocese periodically post the procedures for filing a complaint in parish and diocesan publications. 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 an open dialogue regarding sexual abuse allegations. One district attorney, however, stated his belief that the Diocese should have been more forthcoming with information in past years. 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 not established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons. An Instruction was issued for the Diocese to formulate, publish, and distribute a code in accordance with the Charter. 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 developed and implemented a safe environment program, consisting of training presentations to priests, parents, teachers, employees, and volunteers. A Recommendation was made that a program be developed or purchased that will be suitable for presentation to children, who currently are not receiving such formalized training. The Diocese has not published standards of conduct for priests, deacons, diocesan employees, volunteers, or any other church personnel in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. As mentioned above, an Instruction stipulated that standards be formulated, published, and distributed. The Diocese is conducting background investigations for all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. Since 2002, the Diocese has not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of sexual abuse lodged against him to another ministerial assignment, or for purposes of residency in another diocese. 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 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. 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 this audit, the Diocese of Fall River was issued one Instruction and two Recommendations.

INSTRUCTION—The Diocese will formulate, publish, and distribute a code of conduct for priests, pastoral ministers, administrators, and other clergy and employees that complies with terms of the Charter. Further, there should be provision for documentation of receipt of the code of conduct.

RECOMMENDATION 1—That the Diocese should develop or purchase a safe environment training program for delivery to the children attending diocesan schools and religious education programs.

RECOMMENDATION 2—That the Diocese should periodically post the procedures for making a complaint of sexual abuse in parish bulletins, the diocesan newspaper, and on the diocesan website.

As of December 1, 2003, the Instruction and Recommendations had been addressed. The Diocese of Fall River is compliant with the Charter, as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 of Section 1.

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