Archdiocese of
Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe (“the Archdiocese”), which was established in 1885, covers 19 counties in New Mexico. The Archdiocese has 93 parishes, 217 active missions, 117 priests, 143 deacons, and a Catholic community of 300,000. The Most Reverend Michael J. Sheehan was installed as archbishop in September 1993. A compliance audit of the Archdiocese was conducted during the period of July 14-18, 2003.

The following describes conditions evident during the week of the audit. Information on corrective actions taken by the Diocese subsequent to the audit will be found in the last paragraph.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
Under the direction of Archbishop Sheehan, the Archdiocese has had a history of appropriately dealing with child abuse matters. Emphasis is placed on care and healing of victims/survivors and on prevention. In October 2002, Vice Chancellor Sr. Nancy Kazik was designated the victim assistance coordinator and case manager for sexual abuse allegations. The archbishop makes personal contact with those victims/survivors who are not presently represented by legal counsel and has visited affected parishes and met with victims/survivors. Archdiocesan personnel are fully aware that healing and reconciliation must be ongoing. Both victims/survivors and offenders are offered professional assistance. All allegations are immediately responded to, and a preliminary inquiry is made and forwarded to the review board, which makes recommendations to the archbishop. The Archdiocese has had a review board since 1993, and its operational guidelines are consistent with the Charter. Recommendations were made that the archdiocesan promoter of justice participate in review board meetings and that the archbishop periodically meet with the board. The Archdiocese has not entered into any confidentiality agreements with any victims/survivors since June 2002.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Archdiocese has established effective liaison with local civil authorities and is prepared and committed to cooperate with civil authorities. A Recommendation was issued to expand liaison with the district attorney’s office to include referring complaints received since 2002 involving any victims/survivors who are no longer minors. Victims/survivors are advised of their right to report allegations to civil authorities. The Archdiocese has promulgated codes of ethics for employees, Catholic school teachers, and the lay ministry. Standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy and other church personnel who have regular contact with children have been adopted and discussed at workshops and other venues. The Archdiocese was commended for its ongoing, demonstrated commitment to developing educational programs and workshops, commencing in 1990, to ensure that sexual misconduct will not occur. The Archdiocese has a transparent, open communications policy. Officials respond to media inquiries, convene press conferences, and make themselves available as needed. Relevant archdiocesan lay and clergy personnel affirmed that the archbishop has been directly involved in responding effectively to parishes affected by ministerial misconduct involving minors. The Archdiocese was commended for its excellent communications policy and practice.

To Ensure Accountability of Procedures
The Archdiocese 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 Archdiocese was commended for its ongoing, demonstrated commitment to developing educational programs and workshops, commencing in 1990, to ensure that sexual misconduct will not occur. The Archdiocese has a longstanding policy that calls for background checks on employees and volunteers who deal with children in the archdiocesan schools. Currently, employees and volunteers who work with the parishes and who possibly have contact with children are not subject to criminal checks. It was recommended that background evaluations be conducted for these persons. No archdiocesan priests found guilty of sexual misconduct have been returned to ministry or transferred to another diocese for ministry or residence. The archbishop meets annually with major superiors and with provincials in the Archdiocese. The vocational office conducts extensive background checks on all potential seminarians as well as candidates for the position of permanent deacon. Screening and evaluation techniques are also in place. The archbishop has an 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 this audit, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe was issued five Recommendations and two Commendations.

RECOMMENDATION 1—That the archdiocesan promoter of justice participate in review board meetings.

RECOMMENDATION 2—That the archbishop schedule periodic meetings with the review board.

RECOMMENDATION 3—That the Archdiocese conduct criminal background checks on parish employees and volunteers who have regular contact with children.

RECOMMENDATION 4—That, when subsequent complaints against known offenders are recorded, each new complaint be brought to the review board and that the Archdiocese ensure that all victims/survivors are beneficiaries of the outreach program.

RECOMMENDATION 5—That the Archdiocese confer with the district attorney’s office regarding the referral of complaints of abuse received since 2002 involving any victims/survivors who are no longer minors.

COMMENDATION 1—For an excellent communications policy that reflects a commitment to transparency and openness.

COMMENDATION 2—For ongoing, demonstrated commitment to developing educational programs and workshops to ensure that acts of sexual misconduct will not occur.

As of December 1, 2003, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe had completed all of the recommended actions and is compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the processes outlined in Chapter 2 in Section I.

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.




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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