Diocese of
Salt Lake City, Utah
The Diocese of Salt Lake City (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1887, encompasses the entire state of Utah. It consists of 50 parishes and missions, 57 diocesan priests, 47 deacons, and 14 schools and serves a population of 125,000 registered Catholics. The Most Reverend George H. Niederauer was installed as bishop on November 3, 1994. A compliance audit was conducted of the Diocese during the period of October 13-17, 2003.

The information set forth herein represents conditions as they were found during the week of the audit.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has had an outreach policy in effect since May 14, 1990; it was last revised on September 1, 2003. The bishop or the vicar general has met with victims/survivors who reported abuse after June 2002 to provide pastoral care. The victim assistance coordinator is Monica Howe-Johnson, a well-qualified counselor and administrator. The diocesan review board was appointed on August 30, 2002, consisting of eight people (cleric and non-cleric) of varied backgrounds. The procedures for making a complaint of sexual abuse are readily available in various printed and published forms and have been distributed. There have been no confidentiality agreements entered into by the Diocese since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
An effective liaison program is in place with local civil authorities to ensure that reports of allegations will be referred and cooperation in the ensuing investigations will be extended. The diocesan outreach and safe environment policies contain protocol for advising victims/survivors of their rights to report their allegations to civil authorities. The Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons. The diocesan communications policy is in effect and is very open and transparent regarding issues of sexual abuse of children and minors.

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
An effective, internally developed diocesan safe environment program, which is innovative and efficient, has been established. The training process is underway and is to be completed by November 30, 2003. A Commendation was issued for this innovative, cost-effective effort. The Diocese publicized, on April 14, 2003, 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 retained the services of a national security company to perform background investigations for required persons. Appropriate screening and evaluations of candidates for ordination are being conducted. 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. One such priest with an allegation made against him in 1999 resides in a foreign country and appropriate notification has been made to that bishop. The bishop is in contact with the provincials of the religious orders that have priests serving in the Diocese and coordinates issues pertaining to the prevention of sexual abuse of children. The Diocese has not been requested to participate in conducting research in the area of sexual abuse of minors by other institutions or organizations. The Diocese has a systematic ongoing formation program in keeping with the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (2001).¹

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of the audit, the Diocese of Salt Lake City was found to be compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described in Chapter 2 in Section I. The Diocese was issued one Commendation.

COMMENDATION—For the internal development and implementation of a cost-effective, innovative safe environment program.

Note

1. USCCB, Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2001).

*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.




__________________________________

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