Diocese of
Orange, California
The Diocese of Orange (“the Diocese”), which was established on June 18, 1976, encompasses the county of Orange. It consists of 56 parishes and three missions, 179 diocesan priests, 61 deacons and 89 schools, and it serves a population of 1,127,736 registered Catholics. The Most Reverend Tod David Brown, who was installed as bishop on September 3, 1998, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of September 22-26, 2003.

The information set forth below represents conditions as they were found during the week of the audit.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has an excellent and very effective outreach program that is well documented with procedures and protocols. The program is administered by a well-qualified assistance ministry coordinator, Diane Gomez-Valenzuela, who has more than 20 years of experience in child protective and social services. A Commendation was issued for the outreach program and its efforts. A sexual misconduct oversight and review board was established on May 1, 2003, to replace the existing sensitive issues committee. This nine-member board consists of highly educated, diverse, and respected members of the community. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are available in printed form in a pamphlet and are also outlined on the diocesan website. No confidentiality agreements have been entered into by the Diocese since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has established effective liaisons and a cooperative atmosphere with civil authorities, ensuring an open dialogue regarding sexual abuse allegations will occur. The Diocese has a policy dictating that all victims/survivors be advised of their right to report allegations to civil authorities. There is a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons that stresses zero tolerance. The bishop has endorsed a policy of openness and transparency and has a good relationship with the two secular newspapers, making himself available for interview upon request.

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 several excellent safe environment programs in effect that provide training for clergy, educators, and others who regularly work with children. At present, the Diocese works with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to provide training for the schools and religious education programs. Background investigations, including mandatory fingerprinting of all clergy and church employees who have contact with children, have been in effect since 2002. Fingerprints are forwarded to the California State Department of Justice and the FBI, with an average turnaround of between one and two weeks. The Diocese has not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of sexual abuse made against him to another ministerial assignment, or for purposes of residency to another diocese. The bishop, or his delegate, has met regularly with representatives of men’s religious orders within the Diocese, and copies of diocesan sexual abuse policies have been provided to them. The Diocese participates in the Family Violence Project, which educates children about violence and related issues. The Diocese has established screening and evaluation 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 Orange received one Commendation. As of December 1, 2003, the Diocese of Orange was found to be compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 in Section I.

COMMENDATION—For its outstanding outreach program and excellent written documentation relating to all articles of the Charter.

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