Diocese of
Springfield, Massachusetts
The Diocese of Springfield (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1870, encompasses four counties in western Massachusetts, consists of 124 parishes and 28 schools, has 166 diocesan priests, and 58 deacons, and serves a population of 240,730 registered Catholics. The Most Reverend Thomas L. Dupre, who was installed as bishop in 1995, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of October 13-16, 2003.

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

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has established an outreach program. The bishop has met or offered to meet with victims/survivors of abuse in the Diocese who reported the abuse after June 2002. The victim assistance coordinator is Laura Failla Reilly, who is a licensed clinical social worker. The diocesan review board was established as the misconduct commission in 1992 and consists of nine lay members, including representatives of the social work, legal, and medical professions. The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are readily available in printed form. 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
The Diocese has established effective liaison with local civil authorities, ensuring an open dialogue regarding sexual abuse allegations. The Diocese has a procedure in place to advise victims/survivors of their right to report allegations of abuse by a member of the clergy to civil authorities. A Commendation was issued to the Diocese for its creation of a clergy monitor position for the purpose of providing pastoral support to and monitoring the activities of priests removed from ministry. The Diocese has established a clear and well-publicized code of conduct for priests and deacons. The Diocese has a communications policy that reflects 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 developed and implemented, in cooperation with the Department of Social Services, a safe environment program consisting of training presentations to diocesan and parish personnel having regular contact with children. The Child Lures program has been purchased and will be used for presentation in the schools. 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 contact with children and young people. The Diocese is 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 in another diocese. In the cases of three priests who had transferred to other dioceses for purposes of residency prior to June 2002, the bishop of Springfield sent letters confidentially advising the bishops of those dioceses of the priests’ history and the details of those allegations. The bishop, or his delegate, and the major superiors have coordinated their respective roles regarding issues of allegations of sexual abuse made against a cleric 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. The Diocese has established screening and evaluative techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination and has an ongoing program for priestly formation.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

As of December 1, 2003, the Diocese of Springfield 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 creation of a clergy monitor position for the purpose of providing pastoral care to offending members of clergy and to monitor their activities and status.


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