Archdiocese of
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City (“the Archdiocese”), established in 1973, encompasses 46 counties and 42,470 square miles in Oklahoma and includes a Catholic community of 102,683 parishioners in 71 parishes. The Archdiocese is served by 123 archdiocesan and religious priests and 60 permanent deacons. There are 20 elementary schools, 2 high schools, and one college. The Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran has led the Archdiocese since January 22, 1993. The compliance audit was conducted during the period of August 25-29, 2003.

The information found herein describes conditions evident during the week of the audit.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Archdiocese has had an established “Policy Regarding the Abuse of Minors by Church Personnel” since December 1991; it was subsequently revised in 1998 and in February 2002. The archbishop or his designee has met or offered to meet with victims/survivors and families. Caroline Linehan was designated as victim assistance coordinator in July 2003 upon the departure of Sr. Kathy Olsen, the previous victim assistance coordinator. Linehan has ten years of experience with the Oklahoma Department of Health. An eight-member review board, established in July 2002, is composed of diverse, highly qualified professionals experienced in responding to child abuse matters, including two clinical psychologists, one private psychologist, an educator, a nurse, an attorney, a state tax commission employee, a lay canonist, and a priest. The Archdiocese was commended for the noteworthy performance of the review board in establishing and formalizing its own rules and protocol to follow in performing its duties and responsibilities under the Charter. Specific procedures for filing complaints of sexual abuse are readily available in several media, including the archdiocesan website. The Archdiocese was commended for its comprehensive responsiveness to allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. No confidentiality agreements have been entered into by the Archdiocese since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The one report of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy was reported to the Department of Human Services and the local police department. Comprehensive and effective processes are employed to respond to and take appropriate action on credible allegations of sexual abuse by clergy, to include removal. Standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries have been promulgated and publicized. The archbishop has demonstrated his commitment to a communications policy of transparency and openness and has visited parishes directly affected by clergy misconduct.

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 commended for its excellent safe environment training program, Reducing the Risk of Abuse of Minors, produced by the executive director of Christian Missionary Resources. Applicable church personnel, facilitators, and volunteers are required to complete a risk management program prior to being certified to train other staff and volunteers. Effective background evaluations are used to screen archdiocesan and parish personnel, independent contractors, and volunteers who have regular contact with youth. Screening and evaluation procedures are employed to evaluate the fitness of candidates for ordination. No cleric has been transferred outside the Archdiocese for ministerial purposes. In the case of a retired cleric against whom an allegation had been lodged and who has moved his residence from the Archdiocese, the bishop of the new place of residence has been appropriately advised. Systematic formation of clergy is ongoing.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City was found to be compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 of Section I. The Archdiocese received three Commendations.

COMMENDATION 1—For the initiative of the review board in establishing and formalizing comprehensive operating procedures.

COMMENDATION 2—For establishing the “Policy Regarding the Abuse of Minors” in December 1991, and for its comprehensive responses to allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.

COMMENDATION 3—For implementing a quality training program, Reducing the Risk of Abuse of Minors, and for requiring that training personnel be certified to train other church personnel.


*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