Diocese of
Palm Beach, Florida
The Diocese of Palm Beach (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1984, encompasses five counties in south-central Florida. It consists of 53 parishes and missions and 17 elementary and secondary schools and serves a population of 225,000 registered Catholics with 80 diocesan priests and 40 deacons. The Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, who was installed as bishop in 2003, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of September 22-26, 2003.

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

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has had a prevention policy on sexual abuse of minors, Policy and Procedural Guidelines Relating to the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults, since the mid-1980s. Revised in 1996 and 2000, 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, Theresa Fretterd, who has a master’s degree in counseling. A lay review board, established in June 2002, consists of one priest and nine respected members of the community, including a psychiatrist, a rabbi, a doctor, and a two law enforcement personnel. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed and electronic form. The Diocese has entered into no confidentiality agreements since June 2002. A Commendation was written for the Diocese’s Compliance Administrator Program, in which two representatives from each parish are chosen, trained, and made responsible for further dissemination of information about the policy and programs.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has had little contact with local civil authorities regarding sexual abuse allegations, because no violations of sexual abuse of a minor have been reported to the Diocese since June 2002. Diocesan policy, however, provides for immediate reporting of all allegations to the appropriate authorities. The Diocese 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 Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons. The Diocese has a communications policy, 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 has implemented a series of safe environment seminars through VIRTUS for presentation to adults having regular contact with children, and children are also receiving appropriate training. As mentioned above, the Diocese 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. The Diocese has completed background investigations on all members of the clergy and for 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 orders having a presence in the Diocese are coordinating their respective roles regarding issues of allegations of sexual abuse made against a clerical 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; however, the bishop has contacted the 33 members of the Interfaith Clergy Institute to open the opportunity for dialogue about the Charter and sexual abuse issues. The Diocese has established screening and evaluative techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination and established ongoing formation programs for priests.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Palm Beach was found to be compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 in Section I. One Commendation was issued.

COMMENDATION—For the Diocese’s formation of a group of individuals, chosen from their parishes, who are being trained to further disseminate information about the abuse policy and related issues to their respective parishes.


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