Diocese of
Springfield in Illinois
The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1923, encompasses 28 counties in central Illinois. It consists of 160 parishes and 55 elementary and secondary schools and serves a population of 152,985 registered Catholics with 132 diocesan priests and seven deacons. The Most Reverend George J. Lucas, installed as bishop in 1999, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of September 15-19, 2003.

The information presented below represents conditions as they were found during the week of the audit.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has had a prevention policy on sexual abuse of minors since 1994; it is regularly updated, most recently in 2003. This policy provides for an outreach program designed to provide immediate pastoral care to victims/survivors and their families. The Diocese has a victim assistance coordinator, Patricia Kornfield, who has nearly 30 years of experience in various executive positions in human resources in the private sector. A lay review board was established in 1994 and consists of one priest and six respected members of the community, including two clinical psychologists, a woman religious, a nurse, and a hospital administrator. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed and electronic form. 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 had limited contact with local civil authorities regarding sexual abuse allegations, because no allegations have been reported to the Diocese since June 2002. Policy, however, provides for the immediate reporting of allegations to the appropriate authorities, and all prior allegations were referred to the authorities. The Diocese has a procedure for advising victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy to civil authorities. The Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests, deacons, and other personnel who have regular contact with children. 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 implemented a series of safe environment seminars through VIRTUS for presentation to clergy and all adults having regular or significant contact with children. In addition, the Diocese uses age-appropriate training programs for children and youth. As mentioned above, 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 or significant contact with children and young people. The Diocese has implemented a program to complete background investigations on all members of the clergy and on all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular or significant contact with children; the Diocese employs USIS, an investigative service. 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. The bishop and major superiors of religious orders having a presence in the Diocese have coordinated their respective roles regarding issues of allegations of sexual abuse made against a clerical member of a religious institute. 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; however, the bishop meets monthly with the leaders of the major Protestant denominations to discuss issues in common. The Diocese has established screening and evaluative techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination and has established programs for priestly formation.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois 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