Diocese of
Raleigh, North Carolina
The Diocese of Raleigh (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1924, encompasses 54 counties in eastern North Carolina and serves a Catholic community of 180,000 parishioners. There are a total of 76 parishes with 60 diocesan priests and 23 permanent deacons. The Most Reverend F. Joseph Gossman has been bishop since May 1975. A compliance audit was conducted during the period of September 22-26, 2003.

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

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has had a policy and outreach program responsive to allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy since 1988, both of which have been revised to conform to the Charter. The bishop or his designee has met or is available to meet or speak with any victim desiring to do so. Kathleen Walsh has served as victim assistance coordinator since 1994. She has extensive prior training and experience as a social worker specializing in providing care to abused children. She is assisted by seven regional coordinators, one in each of the seven deaneries. The seven-member review board consists of diverse, respected, highly qualified members of the community, including two non-Catholics, one of whom is the board chair. Documentation exists for all aspects of the review board, and procedures for reporting allegations of abuse are readily available in both English and Spanish and via several media. No confidentiality agreement has been entered into by the Diocese since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has established an Office for the Protection of Children and Young People with a director responsible for the oversight of the program. The Diocese has entered into a comprehensive memorandum of understanding with the Conference of District Attorneys of North Carolina and has excellent working relationships with civil authorities. A procedure exists to advise victims/survivors of their right to report allegations to civil authorities. At least three diocesan handbooks address appropriate clergy standards of conduct and boundaries, as well as those for all persons in positions of trust. The Diocese has a highly-qualified director of communications and a demonstrated policy of openness and transparency. The bishop has met personally with parishioners directly affected by reports of clergy misconduct.

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 developed its own extensive, child-centered safe environment program in both Spanish and English that encompasses background screening, educational strategies and the formation of safe environment teams. An ambitious and far-reaching training schedule for all applicable personnel and volunteers has been initiated. The Diocese is collaborating with Prevent Child Abuse—North Carolina for training purposes. Training is fashioned for various age and experience groups, including for retired clergy and clergy engaged in Spanish ministry. Background evaluations had been conducted on nearly 100 percent of applicable personnel. Screening, monitoring, and evaluation techniques are used to consider the fitness of candidates for ordination. No cleric against whom a credible allegation has been received has been transferred or taken up residence since June 2002 outside the Diocese for ministerial purposes. In the case of an accused religious-order priest who moved outside the Diocese for residency purposes prior to June 2002, the major superior of his order has been notified. The bishop has corresponded with the four clerical institutions represented in the Diocese regarding respective responsibilities in responding to allegations of sexual abuse by clergy. The Trinity Center of the N.C. Episcopal Diocese has consulted with the Diocese of Raleigh regarding policies concerning the prevention of sexual abuse of minors. The bishop has implemented multi-faceted, proactive approaches to the ongoing formation of priests, including training outside of the Diocese. There are evaluation and screening procedures for candidates for ordination.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Raleigh was 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