Diocese of
Portland, Maine
The Diocese of Portland (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1853, encompasses the entire state of Maine. It consists of 135 parishes, 18 elementary schools, and one high school, with an additional college, two high schools and one elementary school administered by religious communities. The Diocese serves a population of about 218,000 registered Catholics with 170 diocesan priests and 24 deacons. The Most Reverend Joseph J. Gerry, who was installed as bishop in 1989, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of June 23-27, 2003.

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

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has a policy on preventing sexual abuse of minors, and this policy provides for an outreach program designed to provide immediate pastoral care to victims/survivors and their families. The bishop or his representative has met with victims/survivors who are willing to meet with them. The diocesan victim assistance coordinator is Susanne Sturm, a registered counselor with a master’s degree in applied behavioral science, operating out of the office of support and assistance ministry. A review board was established in 1993 and currently consists of nine members, including two psychologists, a retired law enforcement official, a state supreme court judge, and a priest. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed form; however, a Recommendation was made to consider expanding the distribution of the brochures describing outreach efforts and how to report allegations of sexual abuse of minors. A Commendation was written describing the innovative development of an information outreach team to visit parishes and respond to questions, and of crisis response teams that visit parishes dealing with a crisis, such as the removal of a priest or the sudden death or illness of a priest. The Diocese has entered into no confidentiality agreements since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has established liaison with local civil authorities regarding sexual abuse violations and has reported all allegations of abuse, even those before June 2002. The Diocese has a policy and procedure in place to advise victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy to civil authorities. A Recommendation was issued reminding the bishop to be specific in his instruction to all offending priests in the future regarding their wearing of clerical garb and presenting themselves publicly as priests. The Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons. A Commendation was written regarding the diocesan preparation of the code of ethics, which was well prepared and professionally presented to all employees and volunteers. 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 selected and implemented a series of safe environment seminars for presentation to adults having regular contact with children. 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 begun completing background investigations on all members of the clergy and 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. Two priests were, however, taking extended vacations to Florida, and an Instruction was written advising the Diocese to notify the appropriate bishop in Florida regarding this situation. 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. The Diocese has established screening and evaluative techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination and a systematic, ongoing formation program.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Portland was issued one Instruction, two Recommendations, and two Commendations.

INSTRUCTION—The Diocese will provide notification of the location of an offending priest who leaves the Diocese, even for an extended vacation, to the bishop of the diocese into which the offending priest is temporarily taking up residence.

RECOMMENDATION 1—That the Diocese implement wider distribution of outreach programs and activites to mental health professions and social service agencies.

RECOMMENDATION 2—That the Diocese warn present and future clerics removed from ministry for sexual abuse of minors that they may not wear clerical garb or present themselves publicly as priests.

COMMENDATION 1—For the development of innovative approaches to resolving problems, such as the development of the information outreach team and the crisis response teams.

COMMENDATION 2—For the preparation of the code of ethics and its distribution to all employees and volunteers.

As of December 1, 2003, all Instructions and Recommendations had been addressed. The Diocese of Portland 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