Diocese of
St. Augustine, Florida
The Diocese of Saint Augustine (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1870, encompasses 17 counties in northeast Florida. It consists of 51 parishes and eight missions, 31 elementary and secondary schools and serves a population of 158,800 registered Catholics with 32 deacons and 128 diocesan priests. The Most Reverend Victor Galeone, installed as bishop in 2001, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period of August 3-7, 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 1985. Revised periodically, with the most recent revision in 2003, this policy provides for an outreach program designed to provide immediate pastoral care to victims/survivors and their families. The Diocese does have a diocesan victim advocate, Ann Crowder, who is responsible for offering and securing assistance for the victims/survivors. She has a master’s degree in education and an undergraduate degree in counseling. A lay review board was established in 1988 and consists of one priest and six respected members of the community, including a psychiatrist, a physician, a police officer, and a nurse. 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 unless requested by the victim/survivor.

To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor
The Diocese has had contact with local civil authorities regarding sexual abuse violations, and its policy provides for immediate reporting of allegations to the appropriate authorities. The Diocese does have 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 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 selected and implemented the VIRTUS series of safe environment training programs for presentation to adults having regular contact with children and for the children themselves; as well as for diocesan employees, volunteers, and any other church personnel in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. The Diocese has had a program since 1998 for background investigations on all members of the clergy and all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. 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 the major superiors of 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. The Diocese has established screening and evaluative techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination and programs for the ongoing formation of priests.

Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter

At the conclusion of this audit, the Diocese of St. Augustine 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