Diocese of
Winona, Minnesota
The Diocese of Winona (“the Diocese”), which was established in 1889, encompasses 20 counties in the southern tier of Minnesota. It consists of 118 parishes and 31 schools, has seven deacons, 118 diocesan priests, and serves a population of 130,427 registered Catholics. The Most Reverend Bernard J. Harrington, who was installed as bishop in 1999, leads the Diocese. A compliance audit of the Diocese was conducted during the period July 28–August 1, 2003.

The information set forth below represents conditions as they were found to exist during the week of the audit. Information regarding necessary corrective actions taken by the Diocese subsequent to the audit will be found in the last paragraph.

Findings

To Promote Healing and Reconciliation
The Diocese has established an outreach program. The bishop, or his designee, has met or offered to meet with victims/survivors of abuse in the Diocese who reported abuse after June 2002. In the case of three civil suits recently filed, the Diocese stated its intention to extend appropriate outreach once litigation is completed. The victim assistance coordinator is P. J. Thompson, who holds advanced degrees in education and administration. The diocesan review board was established in 2002 and consists of six members, including one priest and five respected members of the lay community. 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. The Diocese has not established its own code of conduct for priests and deacons but relies on standards set forth by canons 273-289 in the Code of Canon Law. These standards are a frequent topic presented at training sessions and meetings for members of clergy. 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 a safe environment program, consisting of presentations to diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with children. The Diocese uses the “train the trainer” approach, with individual parishes then having the responsibility for training their own personnel. As mentioned above, the Diocese relies on canons 273-289 for its standards of conduct for priests and deacons. Separate standards have been established for diocesan employees, volunteers, and any other church personnel in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people; these individuals are required to sign a statement indicating their understanding of these standards. 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 two priests who had relocated to other dioceses for residence purposes, no notification had been made to the bishops of those dioceses. A Recommendation was made for the Diocese to notify those bishops of the presence of the two priests and confidentially to provide all information relating to allegations of sexual abuse of a child by the priests. 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. 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 this audit, the Diocese of Winona was issued two Recommendations and one Commendation.

RECOMMENDATION 1—That the Diocese expedite the updating of its sexual misconduct policy, so that it will address all relevant requirements of the Charter.

RECOMMENDATION 2—That the Diocese notify the bishops of two dioceses to which priests who were removed from ministry have relocated for residence. Such notifications are to include details of the priests’ sexual abuse of minors.

COMMENDATION—For an early awareness of sexual abuse of minors as a serious problem for the Church, as evidenced by the creation of a sexual misconduct policy in 1987. This policy was updated in 1993 and 2000, and is currently in the process of being updated again for the purpose of complying with all aspects of the Charter.

As of December 1, 2003, the Diocese of Winona had addressed these Recommendations and is considered compliant with the provisions of the Charter as measured by the process described 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