Bishop Accountability

DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND OH

Accused Priests: 118
Total Priests: 2,515
Persons Making Claims: 285
Cost: $14,400,000 for compensation, treatment and legal costs

For disagreements regarding the number of accused priests in Cleveland, see the "frequently asked questions" below, and Laurie Goodstein's Diocese Resists Releasing Names of Accused Priests.

See the Dallas Morning News database entry on Bishop Anthony Pilla. The June 2002 database examined the records of bishops and identified those who had allowed accused priests to continue working or had otherwise protected priests accused of sexual abuse. The database is relevant to the bishops' "Nature and Scope" study because the bishops who prepared the surveys for the study are in many cases responsible for the "scope" of the problem.

BISHOP REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT
TO PROTECT CHILDREN, EASE SUFFERING

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/abuse%20investigation/bishop_reaffirms_committment.htm

CLEVELAND – February 27, 2004 – Bishop Anthony M. Pilla today reaffirmed the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland’s commitment to protecting children from sexual abuse and provided information on previous cases and compensation to victims. Earlier in the day, a national study reported on the nature and scope of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy in the Catholic Church in the Untied States.

“Sexual abuse is unconscionable and inexcusable, and even one case is too many,” said Bishop Pilla. “However, easing suffering is a fundamental tenet of our faith, and providing appropriate compensation when and as circumstances call for it is simply the right thing to do. We pray that we are enabling those whom we help financially to move forward with the healing process at the same time we continue to strive to prevent future incidents and protect our young people.”

The study released today by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) included information on the number of reported abuse cases implicating clergy since 1950 and the cost to the nation’s 195 dioceses in compensation to victims, treatment costs and legal fees through the end of 2002.

“Although we cannot change history, we can make sure that it is not repeated by determining the nature and scope of the problem on a broad scale,” the Bishop said. “With this information, we as bishops can assess whether the steps we have taken are adequate to address the problem.”

Bishop Pilla added, “While nonetheless tragic and inexcusable whenever they may have taken place, virtually all of the matters in question occurred prior to the adoption of written policies by this Diocese 15 years ago to deal with sexual abuse. A significant number of victims have only recently found the strength to bring their abuse to the attention of the Diocese or legal authorities. I respect them for having the courage to do so and urge others to step forward if they feel they have been harmed.”

Locally, the Diocese cited allegations against 118 of the 2,515 priests and deacons who have served the Diocese since 1950.

“I must reiterate that the Diocese is committed to protecting children and that we have done all we can to assure that no one in active ministry is a danger to children,” Bishop Pilla said. “However, I encourage any person to come forward if he or she is aware of a credible allegation against someone currently in active ministry. We are prepared to act swiftly and decisively.”

Compensation, treatment and legal costs, involving 285 persons who have made a claim against the Diocese alleging sexual abuse by a priest or deacon, totaled approximately $14.4 million through December 31, 2003. Funding is provided by the Diocese’s long-established Property and Casualty Reserve Fund. No Catholic Charities money or money used for diocesan social or educational services was used for this purpose.

Proactively dealing with the problem

Bishop Pilla said the Diocese of Cleveland has dealt proactively with the problem of sexual abuse of minors in a number of ways, including:

* Establishing and updating written policies regarding interaction with children and outlining proper follow-up to allegations.

* Requiring education and training for more than 40,000 adults who have contact with children through their service in the Diocese.

* Establishing a Diocesan Response Office, staffed by trained counselors, to respond to al allegations of sexual abuse of children. Allegations can be reported to 216-334-2999 or response_services@dioceseofcleveland.org.

* Establishing a telephone line – 216-334-2999 – for callers to report allegations of sexual abuse of children.

* Conducting ongoing gatherings of clergy and certified lay ecclesial ministers to discuss the scandal.

* Creating a Review Board, composed almost exclusively of lay people, to serve in a consultative and advisory capacity and to assess the credibility of all allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy.

Policies provide safeguards

The Diocese of Cleveland has had written policies since 1989 to deal with sexual abuse and on March 1, 2003, adopted new policies recommended by the Special Commission on Sexual Abuse of Minors. An independent audit commissioned by the USCCB last year documented that the Diocese is in compliance with the USCCB’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, passed in Dallas in June 2002. The Essential Norms to implement that Charter were established as particular law for all dioceses of the United States on March 1, 2003.

Bishop Pilla emphasized, “Our vigorous application of these policies provides important safeguards and reflects my sincere desire and that of the Church to protect all of our children from harm, deal effectively with the horrors of sexual abuse and reaffirm our fundamental policy – no tolerance, immediate notification of civil authorities, and ongoing oversight by lay people. The very real problems of the past have been the driving force behind the Church’s many efforts to deal effectively with the problem and prevent future incidents.”

The independent audit assessed each diocese’s level of compliance in achieving the four main goals incorporated in the Charter and confirmed that the Diocese of Cleveland has:

* Successfully guaranteed an effective response to allegations of sexual abuse of minors.

* Promoted the healing and reconciliation with victims/survivors of child sexual abuse.

* Ensured the accountability of all procedures.

* Taken measures to protect the faithful in the future.

In addition, the Diocese was issued a “Commendation” for the early recognition of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and the establishment of a relevant policy in 1989.

“Protecting God’s Children”

The Diocese’s preventive actions also include implementing the “Protecting God’s Children” program, also known as VIRTUS. It is a program of education, training and personnel background checks required for more than 40,000 persons – including all diocesan and parish staff, priests, deacons, brothers, seminarians, religious, certified pastoral ministers, parish life coordinators, members of pastoral teams, teachers, coaches, volunteers and all others having contact with children – in the eight counties of the Diocese. Materials for training and increasing awareness among parents are also included.

“The goal of our Diocese is to have every priest and deacon, every employee and every volunteer serving our Diocese to become a knowledge center for protecting children,” said Donna Albertone, program coordinator. “There is a sincere desire among the adults of our Diocese to help ensure that the church, school and institutional setting provides an environment where children can be children, safe from the horrors of sexual abuse.”

Since the program’s inception last September, more than 150 facilitators have been trained to conduct adult awareness sessions. Many are in the process of scheduling sessions with parishes, schools and organizations throughout 2004. To date, more than 8,200 people have attended the three-hour awareness sessions and are actively using VIRTUS OnLine for continuing education. In addition, some 44,000 employees and volunteers have received policy books outlining the Diocese’s policies on sexual abuse.

The Diocese is also continuing a series of meetings, guided and developed with the assistance of professionals, to allow clergy and others to discuss their response to the scandal and its impact on their spiritual lives and the exercise of their ministry.

Providing a means for review

In addition, last year Bishop Pilla appointed a 15-member Review Board, composed almost exclusively of lay people, to serve in a consultative and advisory capacity. The board’s functions include assessing the credibility of allegations of sexual abuse of minors that have been made against priests and recommending to the Bishop whether a priest should be placed on administrative leave; monitoring each case to ensure that the policy has been followed; reviewing the policy and its procedures and recommending any modifications; and making recommendations concerning the continuation of ministry or service of priests, deacons, seminarians, religious and anyone who has canonical appointment by the Bishop against whom a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been made. Ultimate decision-making authority remains with the Bishop.

Attorney Patricia Ritzert, who chairs the Review Board, said, “This board has been called upon to address all allegations of abuse that have been made since its formation and is reviewing the cases of priests who are on leave and seek reinstatement. We have had the full cooperation of the diocesan leadership throughout the process.”

Bishop Pilla noted, “Despite the transgressions of a few, the overwhelming majority of priests and bishops have faithfully served God’s people and lived a life of dedicated service to God and the Church. I am grateful for them and know that the good people of this Diocese join me in thanking them for their priestly ministry and pledging our prayerful support of them and our ministry.”

The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is the 15th largest diocese in the United States, encompassing Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Wayne and Ashland counties. With 234 parishes, the Diocese serves approximately 813,000 Catholics, or 28 percent of the total eight-county population.

Media contact: Robert Tayek, Director of Media and Public Relations, Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, 216-696-6525, ext. 4460

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/abuse%20investigation/faqs_abuse_scandal.htm

Why were so many priests from our Diocese accused?

Sexual abuse is unconscionable and inexcusable, and even one case is too many. That said, the number of priests and allegations must be put into context. The allegations cover a period of more than 50 years and include any allegation, regardless of merit or credibility. More than 2,500 priests and deacons have served the Diocese of Cleveland since 1950, and allegations have been reported against 86 diocesan priests, 1 diocesan deacon, 19 religious order priests, 4 priests from other dioceses who were residing here, and 8 unidentified priests – which brings the total number to 118. This rate is in line with the incidence rate among society in general. Despite the transgressions of a few, however, the overwhelming majority of priests and bishops have faithfully served God’s people and lived a life of dedicated service to God and the Church and have earned and deserve the support of the Diocese, parishioners and the community.

The report published on February 27, 2004 by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice is the first of its kind. No other group except the Catholic Church in this country has assembled comparable numbers, so no point of comparison to other groups is possible. However, with such data, the National Review Board will be able to give an interpretation and then social scientists will use the database for other studies. This could lead to a more scientific understanding of the causes of sexual abuse of minors and suggest changes that might be made in the future.

Why is there a difference between the numbers the Diocese and the Cuyahoga County prosecutor reported about priests against whom allegations have been made?

Our records indicate allegations of child abuse against 118 priests and deacons who have served in the Diocese of Cleveland since 1950. Although we cannot be sure what parameters the prosecutor used in determining his number, it is our understanding that he included any allegation brought to his office’s attention against any priest, including those from outside the Diocese of Cleveland, regardless of where the alleged incident occurred and including allegations other than sexual abuse of a child.

Could one reason for the difference be that the prosecutor has received allegations of which the Diocese is not aware?

It would be inappropriate to speculate. However, we have asked the prosecutor’s office to encourage any witnesses or victims to bring any allegation of abuse to the Diocese’s attention.

Isn’t it still possible that there are priests in active ministry who are child abusers?

The safety of children remains first and foremost in the Diocese’s policy on sexual abuse. To the best of our knowledge, no one against whom there is reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing – no matter when it may have occurred – is currently in active ministry. However, we urge people to continue to come forward if they have been harmed or if they suspect questionable behavior; they may inform law enforcement authorities or contact the Diocesan Response Office in confidence at 216-334-2999.

What is the status of the priests who were placed on administrative leave because of allegations against them?

The safety of children remains first and foremost in the Diocese’s policy on sexual abuse. Individuals on administrative leave may seek a reinstatement recommendation from the Review Board, which considers each situation on a case-by-case basis.

Can you assure parents that their children are safe in the company of priests and other religious?

We are committed to protecting children from harm and to helping victims of past abuse. The overwhelming majority of priests and bishops have faithfully served God’s people and lived a life of dedicated service to God and the Church and have earned and deserve the support of the Diocese, parishioners and the community. To the best of the Diocese’s knowledge, all priests against whom there is reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing have been removed from active ministry. Moreover, the Diocese’s policy on sexual abuse is clear: no tolerance, immediate notification of civil authorities, and ongoing oversight by lay people. We encourage people to continue to report any suspected inappropriate behavior to law enforcement authorities or to contact the Diocesan Response Office in confidence at 216-334-2999.

Did the Diocese make mistakes in the way it handled abuse cases in the past?

We sincerely apologize to anyone who feels the Diocese’s actions have caused them pain and suffering. As society has struggled to understand and deal with the horrors of sexual abuse, the Church’s policy has also evolved and been strengthened. Today, society and the Church have a much greater understanding of the causes of sexual abuse, as well as the proper, effective and necessary responses. We are confident that what we have learned and the policies we have set in place will help to secure the safety of children now and in the future.

What has the Diocese done to address the problem of sexual abuse?

The Diocese of Cleveland has had written policies dealing with sexual abuse since 1989 and adopted new policies recommended by the Special Commission on Sexual Abuse of Minors, effective March 1, 2003.

Bishop Pilla has personally met with and offered comfort and support to many of the victims who have come forward and asked to meet with him; members of the Bishop’s staff have also met with victims who requested such a meeting.

The Diocese created a Review Board, composed almost exclusively of lay people, to review all allegations of sexual abuse of minors; required education and ongoing training, The Protecting God’s Children Program commonly referred to as VIRTUS, for more than 40,000 adults who have contact with children through their service to the Diocese in order to enhance safe environments for minors; and diocesan and parish employees, and volunteers who work with minors, must now consent to criminal background checks.

We have conducted, with the assistance of professionals, and will continue to conduct ongoing gatherings of clergy and certified lay ecclesial ministers to discuss the scandal; and reinforced a clear policy of no tolerance, immediate notification of civil authorities, and ongoing oversight by lay people.

Candidates for ministry are evaluated by appropriate medical professionals and screened by lay people to identify psychological issues and to assess psychosexual maturity, among other characteristics. We are in the process of setting finalizing a new “Code of Conduct for Ministers in the Diocese of Cleveland” which will include new protocol for all in ministry to follow when they are with minors.

We have published in various venues, including The Catholic Universe Bulletin, parish bulletins, parish and institutional newsletters, and our diocesan website www.dioceseofcleveland.org, how to report instances of sexual abuse of minors and encouraged people to report any suspected inappropriate behavior to law enforcement authorities or to contact the Diocesan Response Line in confidence at 216-334-2999.

We have posted our Diocesan Policy for the Safety of Children in Matters of Sexual Abuse, the USCCB’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the Essential Norms, Abuse Investigation Documents, information about our Review Board, and procedures for reporting any past or present suspected inappropriate behavior toward children by priests, religious, or personnel associated with the church on our Web site www.dioceseofcleveland.org to make information on this issue readily available to Catholics and other members of the public.

Has the Diocese done enough to address the problem of abuse?

We are continually striving to enhance our efforts. The vigorous application of the numerous policies and safeguards already in place reflects the sincere desire of this Diocese and the Church to protect all of our children from harm, deal effectively with the horrors of sexual abuse and reaffirm our fundamental policy – no tolerance, immediate notification of civil authorities, and ongoing oversight by lay people. One of the functions of the Review Board is to make sure the Diocese is being faithful in following this policy.

Our Diocese, like every other in the United States, was required to undergo an audit of its child protection program. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops contracted with an independent firm, the Gavin Group, Inc., to conduct an audit. A team of auditors spent a week here in Cleveland in June of 2003. We are pleased to report that the Diocese of Cleveland was found to be in full compliance with the USCCB Charter and Norms.

What happens now if someone comes forward with an allegation of abuse, whether it occurred recently or long ago?

We encourage people to report suspected inappropriate behavior, no matter when it may have occurred, to law enforcement officials and/or directly to the Diocesan Response Office at 216-334-2999. All allegations are forwarded to the Review Board, appropriate Diocesan officials and law enforcement authorities. If the allegation casts a reasonable suspicion and is not clearly false or not clearly incredible, the priest is placed on administrative leave. This action is taken as a temporary administrative measure, pending full investigation and resolution of the case. The Diocese of Cleveland continues to follow a zero tolerance policy: no priest, deacon or church worker whom the Diocese has reasonable cause to believe sexually abused a minor can remain in ministry.

Why was so much money spent on victims?

Easing suffering is a fundamental tenet of our faith, and providing appropriate compensation when and as circumstances call for it is simply the right thing to do. We pray that we are and helping those we have compensated is simply the right thing to do. We pray that we are enabling them to move forward with the healing process at the same time we continue to strive to prevent future incidents and protect our young people. We believe the amount spent by the Diocese of Cleveland is similar to that spent by other dioceses of comparable size.

Were Diocesan operations affected by the expenditure of the $14 million related to claims involving child abuse? Was Catholic Charities money used for the payments?

The expenditures were from the Diocese’s Property and Casualty Reserve Fund; an “emergency fund” established more than 20 years ago and which consists of money not otherwise designated for diocesan operations or social services. No Catholic Charities money or money designated for Diocesan educational or social services was used for this purpose.

If the Diocese did not spend $14 million on victims of abuse, where else would that money have been used?

What impact has the abuse scandal had on weekly parish collections?

Many factors, including the local economy, affect fluctuations in weekly collections. We have no way of knowing what impact the abuse scandal may have had.

Will you increase the assessment on each parish to help pay for these settlements?

No.

Doesn’t the fact that there were more abusers than previously thought imply that the Church was successful in covering up many of these cases?

Clearly it demonstrates that during the past 50 years abuse was dealt with in many ways that were ineffective in both Church and society until relatively recently. The situation today is that

* laws protecting children are stronger;

* public authorities investigate these accusations more effectively;

* parents are more alert to the importance of reporting abuse other local authorities.

* Above all, people now come forward and report being abused instead of suffering in silence as so many did in the past.

We have learned much about the insidious nature of abuse and it reinforces the need for the comprehensive, transparent reporting and prevention policies made mandatory by the bishops in the Dallas Charter and Norms.

But didn’t the Church keep a lot of these cases quiet by paying hush money to families?

Like many other organizations and individuals, dioceses reached settlements with victims. As often happens when intimate matters are involved or matters about which the parties cannot agree on liability, the settlements were accompanied by non-disclosure agreements covering all parties. Even though this is common in civil litigation, it has been criticized as a “cover-up” when the Church asks for such agreements. It had the unintended effect, under certain circumstances, of enabling abuser to abuse again. This practice is now forbidden by the “Charter” “except for grave and substantial reasons brought forward by the victim/survivor and noted in the text of the agreement” (Article 3).

Isn’t it clear that there must be a problem in the priesthood that encourages abuse of minors?

Tragically child abusers can be found in all states of life, including within families. The priesthood doesn’t make a man an abuser, nor do other vocations or professions. What makes it particularly appalling in this case is that offenders not only abused their position of trust, but destroyed children’s innocence and often their ability to have any trust in the Church.

The Church has committed itself to comprehensive prevention programs in dioceses, parishes, and seminary training to prevent such behavior in the future.

But doesn’t celibacy create unhealthy sexual repression that can drive a person to act out in unacceptable ways?

If that were true then what is the explanation for the vast majority of abusers who do not live, or even try to live, a celibate life? In fact, a significant percentage of abusers turn out to have been married people abusing family members.

Literally tens of thousands of priests here and around the world have committed their lives to Christ and to the people they serve. Celibacy is a gift and one to be cherished, since priestly celibacy has been an inspiration to millions of Catholics. It requires prayer and a supportive environment.

Perhaps 50 years ago, the environment was more supportive of the celibate commitment as it seems to have been more supportive of marriage. But even a less friendly environment does not take away celibacy’s value. But we need to nurture this gift more intensively and consciously for a now that it is no longer as supported by the general culture as it once was.

Alleged Incidents of Sexual Abuse
Diocese of Cleveland
1950 – 2003

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/abuse%20investigation/pie_charts.htm