Diocese of
Rochester, New York
The Diocese of Rochester (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1868, encompasses 7,107 square miles and 12 counties in northwestern New York. The Diocese consists of 158 parishes, 53 diocesan, parish, and private elementary schools, and seven high schools, and it serves a community of 341,500 Catholics of the Diocese with 246 diocesan priests and 135 deacons. The Most Reverend Matthew H. Clark, who was installed as bishop in June 1979, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of September 15-19, 2003.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese of Rochester has had an established outreach program since 1993. The bishop or his designee has met or offered to meet with victims/survivors of abuse in this Diocese who reported the abuse after June 2002. The victim assistance coordinator is Barbara Pedeville, who is assisted by several experienced clergy and staff personnel. The diocesan review board was established in 1993 and was realigned in June 2002 to add further expertise in several disciplines. The board currently consists of 10 members, including two clerics and eight professionals drawn from the fields of law enforcement, mental health, and advocacy. Diocesan staff, including the VAC, and external legal counsel assist them. Procedures for making a complaint of abuse are available in printed form and have been promulgated in numerous public presentations by the bishop, in the print media, and on the diocesan website. A Recommendation was issued to complete the proposed informative pamphlet and to disseminate the document as soon as possible. No confidentiality agreements have been entered into by the diocese since June 2002 unless requested by the victim/survivor.

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 has procedures in place to advise victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of 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. A Recommendation was made to align existing June 1996 policy with the Charter and Bishop Clark’s May 4, 2002, letter to members of the Diocese. The Diocese has a communications policy reflecting the bishop’s pledge of openness and transparency 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
This Diocese has selected and implemented training for some employees and volunteers who have regular contact with children. Appropriate surveys of schools and training for parents and children have yet to be initiated. A Recommendation was issued directing that the Diocese verify what safe environment training is being, or has been, provided to parents and children, and to provide a progress report. The Diocese adapted a training video produced by the Archdiocese of Baltimore to include segments featuring diocesan and parochial personnel; wider presentation of that video was recommended. 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 begun conducting background evaluations for all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. The Diocese has not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of sexual abuse lodged against him to another ministerial assignment or for residence in another diocese. Except for monastic communities, there are no major superiors of men in the Diocese. The bishop, or his delegate, is in regular contact with several groups of religious in the Diocese. The Diocese has not received any request 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.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Rochester was issued three Recommendations.

RECOMMENDATION 1—That the Diocese complete and disseminate the information pamphlet on procedures for filing a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor.

RECOMMENDATION 2—That the Diocese update the existing Priests Personnel Policies (June 1996) to conform to the Charter and the bishop’s May 4, 2002, letter to members of the Diocese.

RECOMMENDATION 3—That the Diocese identify which safe environment training is being, or has been, provided to parents and children of the Diocese, and provide a progress report and implementation plan.

As of December 1, 2003, all three Recommendations had been addressed. The Diocese of Rochester 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