Diocese of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Diocese of Pittsburgh (“the Diocese”), established in 1843, encompasses six counties and 3,753 square miles in southwest Pennsylvania. The Diocese has 324 active diocesan priests and 50 deacons. There are 106 elementary schools, 11 high schools, 3 colleges and universities, and 1 non-theological seminary. The Diocese serves a Catholic community of 812,000 persons. The Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, who was installed as bishop in February 1988, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of October 6-10, 2003.

The following describes conditions evident during the week of the audit.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
Since 1993, the Diocese has had an established outreach program, and the bishop or his designee has met or offered to meet with victims/survivors of abuse in this diocese. The diocesan assistance coordinator, Rita E. Flaherty, has served in that capacity since 1993. She is assisted by several experienced clergy. The diocesan review board was established in the mid-1990s. More recently, a total of 39 persons, including 12 clergy, have been named to the pool of review board members, from which five are selected to hear presentations on individual cases of reports of abuse. A Recommendation was issued for the Diocese to realign and reduce the membership of the diocesan review board and thus increase board participation to enhance experience and institutional memory. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed form, including a 16-page pamphlet entitled Diocese of Pittsburgh Policy: Clergy Sexual Misconduct, issued March 1993, revised October 2002, and updated August 2003. This pamphlet is the enabling, authoritative diocesan reference and response to allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy. Diocesan reporting procedures have also been broadcast via the print and TV media as well as on the diocesan website. There have been no confidentiality agreements entered into 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 open dialogue regarding sexual abuse allegations. The Diocese routinely notifies civil authorities of allegations of abuse of minors, even when not required to do so by Pennsylvania law. 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. This notification is promulgated at the outset in the October 2002 revision of the Diocese of Pittsburgh Policy: Clergy Sexual Misconduct pamphlet. The Diocese has an established process that addresses allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy. The Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons. The Diocese was commended for the overall high quality of its response to the spirit and words of the Charter in all aspects: leadership, public outreach, policies, procedures, and implementation. The Diocese has a communications policy reflecting the bishop’s demonstrated commitment to be open and transparent on issues regarding the sexual abuse of children. Implementation is evident through various means: the Diocese of Pittsburgh website; the Pittsburgh Catholic, the diocesan newspaper; the bishop’s nationally syndicated, Sunday morning televised program; and a well-known diocesan clergy public spokesman.

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
This Diocese has established a safe environment program from VIRTUS and has trained a significant portion of priests and diocesan personnel. Specific short-term goals have been designated for the completion of remaining training. This 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. This Diocese has conducted background evaluations for all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of sexual abuse lodged against him to another ministerial assignment in any another diocese. In the case of a clergy member who transferred to another diocese or eparchy for residence after June 2002, the bishop has forwarded a letter to that diocese’s bishop, confidentially providing all information relating to any allegations of sexual abuse made against them. The bishop of Pittsburgh, or his delegate, and the major superiors have coordinated their respective roles regarding issues of allegations of sexual abuse made against a clerical member of a religious institute. The diocese has not had the 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 of Pittsburgh has established screening and evaluation techniques for the selection of candidates for ordination.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the completion of the audit, the Diocese of Pittsburgh was issued one Recommendation and one Commendation.

RECOMMENDATION—That the Diocese reduce the membership of the diocesan review board, thus enhancing individual experience and institutional memory.

COMMENDATION—For the overall high quality of diocesan response to the spirit and words of the Charter in all aspects: leadership, public outreach, policies, procedures, and implementation.

As of December 1, 2003, the Diocese has provided a responsive reply to the foregoing Recommendation. The Diocese of Pittsburgh is found to be compliant with 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