Archdiocese of
Indianapolis, Indiana
The Archdiocese of Indianapolis (“the Archdiocese”), which was established as a diocese in 1898 and as an archdiocese in 1944, encompasses 38 counties in southern Indiana. It consists of 139 parishes, 11 missions, 70 elementary and secondary schools, and two colleges/universities, and it serves a population of 240,000 registered Catholics with 162 diocesan priests. The Most Reverend Daniel M. Buechlein, OSB, installed as archbishop in 1992, leads the Archdiocese. A compliance audit of the Archdiocese was conducted during the period of August 4-8, 2003.

The information presented below represents conditions as they were found during the week of the audit. Information regarding necessary corrective actions taken by the Archdiocese subsequent to the audit will be found in the last paragraph.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Archdiocese has had a prevention policy on sexual abuse of minors since the early 1980s, most recently revised in 2003. This policy provides for an outreach program designed to provide immediate pastoral care to victims/survivors and their families. The Archdiocese does have a victim assistance coordinator, Chancellor Suzanne Magnant, who has 20 years of experience with the department of public welfare. A diocesan review board, consisting of one priest and five respected members of the community, including a psychologist and a business executive, was established in 2002. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed and electronic form. The Archdiocese has entered into no confidentiality agreements since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Archdiocese has had limited contact with local civil authorities regarding sexual abuse allegations, because no allegations have been reported to the Archdiocese since June 2002. The policy, however, provides for immediate reporting of allegations to the appropriate authorities. The Archdiocese 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 Archdiocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests, deacons, and others church personnel who have contact with children. The Archdiocese has a communications policy reflecting the archbishop’s pledge to be open and transparent on issues regarding the sexual abuse of children.

To Ensure Accountability of Procedures
The Archdiocese 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 Archdiocese was found not to have developed or implemented a series of safe environment seminars for presentation to clergy or adults having regular contact with children. It does have a program for the children of the Archdiocese. A Recommendation was written requiring that the Archdiocese implement a safe environment program for all adults, including clergy, who have regular contact with children. As mentioned above, the Archdiocese 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. Since 1995, the Archdiocese has had a program in place that requires background investigations on all members of the clergy and all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. The Archdiocese 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 archbishop, or his designees, and the major superiors of orders having a presence in the Archdiocese have coordinated their respective roles regarding issues of allegations of sexual abuse made against a clerical member of a religious institute. The Archdiocese 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 Archdiocese has established screening and evaluative techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination and has on ongoing formation program for priests.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis was issued one Recommendation.

RECOMMENDATION 1—That the Archdiocese develop a safe environment program for parents, educators, clergy, employees, and volunteers who regularly work with children.

As of December 1, 2003, the Recommendation had been addressed. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis 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