This column by Bishop Clark appeared in the June 2010 Catholic Courier newspaper.

Preventing sexual abuse of children
© 2010, Catholic Courier

No issue in my 31 years as bishop has been more troubling and disturbing to me than the issue of sexual abuse of children by clergy or, for that matter, by any person, whether connected to the church or not. It is abhorrent to me, beyond words, that any priest would harm a child or vulnerable adult, and further do so in the sacred framework of the church, abusing the trust and privilege granted to them.

As you might imagine, the recent barrage of disturbing news from several European countries with new revelations of past abuse – including much media scrutiny about the pope when he long ago served as the Archbishop of Munich, Germany – only serves to remind me once again of the work still needed to remove this scourge from the church and society.

I am not alone in this, of course. At a recent meeting of the diocesan Presbyteral Council, the priests and I discussed at some length these recent international news reports. I could hear in their words, and see in their faces, the pain, sorrow and frustration this seemingly unending issue has caused. They shared what I already knew instinctively: that many of the faithful in their parishes were angry, disheartened and dispirited not only by what has been done to the victims, not only by allegations of cover-ups, but also at what they perceive as overzealous media attention, as well as the obvious damage to the credibility and reputation of their beloved faith.

For all these reasons, then, I feel it is important to address this issue once again, to share some thoughts about the current crisis and to update you on our own diocesan-parish efforts.

I hope my words will in some way assuage any anger or sorrow you are feeling, bolster your confidence in our local initiatives to make our church environment safe and holy, and encourage you never to give up on your faith or the power of the Risen Christ to heal those who have been harmed and to help us solve this crisis.

To begin with, regarding the recently published allegations and innuendo concerning Pope Benedict XVI, nothing that I have read has shaken my conviction that the pope is a man of the highest integrity. His strong words to church leaders in several European countries, as well as his past and recent public statements, could not portray a more determined hand in mandating the church use every means and resource to deal firmly with abusers and to make the church a safe and holy environment worldwide. Our interactions with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Benedict led before he became pope, were always helpful and responsive in these matters. You can read a number of the pope’s recent public statements and review Vatican resources intended to combat sexual abuse of minors at www.vatican.va/resources.

Secondly, though some of you will likely disagree, I feel it is not constructive to blame the news media for their coverage of this scandal in the church. Might not this notoriety help us learn from the past? Won’t it spur us to create a safer, holier environment and a church as far beyond reproach as possible? Isn’t this an opportunity to highlight what I believe is the most active organization in the nation in terms of initiatives to protect the vulnerable?

To that end, I want to update you on our own diocesan efforts to protect the young. Many of these initiatives are based on principles developed by my brother bishops and me nearly 20 years ago, when the issue of clerical abuse of minors began to be more generally known.

I believe these principles are just as helpful today as they were then:

• Respond promptly to all allegations of abuse where there is reasonable belief that abuse has occurred.
• If such an allegation is supported by sufficient evidence, remove ministerial privileges from the alleged offender promptly and refer him for appropriate medical evaluation and intervention.
• Comply with the obligations of civil law for reporting an incident and cooperating with any official investigation.
• Reach out to the victims and their families, and communicate sincere commitment to their spiritual and emotional well-being.
• Within the confines of respect for privacy of the individuals involved, deal as openly as possible with the members of the community.

  To help us follow these important principles, we established in 1993 a Diocesan Review Board to offer guidance in responding to allegations. We appointed victims’ assistance coordinators who would receive complaints and organize assistance that might be helpful for victims. And we instituted policies concerning sexual abuse and harassment, and provided training to all clerics and employees in these areas. We reported contemporary allegations of abuse to the appropriate civil authorities, with the result in some instances that diocesan priests were arrested, tried and convicted.

  As you know, the abuse crisis widened substantially in 2002 through the reporting of The Boston Globe and other news organizations. In response, the USCCB developed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and Essential Norms.

  Based on the Charter, and on our own desire to strengthen our efforts, the Diocese:

• Strengthened the Review Board, particularly with the addition of individuals with extensive law-enforcement experience.
• Worked to develop open, working relationships with current law enforcement officials throughout the 12-county diocese.
• Reviewed our past responses in individual cases and, when appropriate, removed offenders from public ministry.
• Strengthened our screening process for applicants seeking admission to the seminary or deacon formation program.
• Began a program of background checks, including criminal history for clerics, educators, employees and volunteers who would work with children and vulnerable adults.
• Developed Codes of Conduct, and educated clerics, educators, employees and volunteers concerning their applicability in specific settings. Those codes can be reviewed online at www.dor.org.
• Publicized contact information for our victims' assistance coordinator and offered training to all clerics, educators, employees and volunteers on the process of reporting allegations.
• Encouraged victims to report to civil authorities and to seek assistance. In addition, we have continued to report contemporary and past allegations to appropriate civil authorities.

In addition, to ensure ongoing compliance with the Charter, we have taken part in annual compliance audits conducted by the independent Gavin Group. I am proud to report that we have been found in compliance in every instance and, in many cases, commended for a particular program or approach.

It is worth noting that, since 2002, we have conducted background checks and provided training for approximately 25,000 clerics, educators, employees and volunteers through our Creating a Safe Environment program. Some 72,000 young people in our Catholic schools and religious-education programs have received prevention education.

Finally, this summer we will launch a new program called Safe and Sacred aimed at retraining our people in all diocesan organizations and entities.

Through all of these efforts, we have learned much as individuals and as a diocese about the issue of sexual abuse. We remain committed not only to preventing abuse within the church and in every corner of our diocese, but also in the secular communities of which we are a part.

The problem of sexual abuse of children is not confined to the church but exists in all of society. Most abusers, in fact, are relatives of those abused. Yet this sad fact does not relieve our priests, deacons, any pastoral ministers or diocesan employee or me from the mission of protecting children and vulnerable adults in our parishes, schools and agencies.

I pledge to you again as your bishop that we will do all we can to ensure the safety of children in our diocese. Even one case of sexual abuse of a child by a cleric would be one too many. Even one case of sexual abuse of a child in the home or at school or by anyone anywhere would be one too many.

Indeed, the headlines remain difficult.

They are hard for the victims, their families and loved ones. They are hard for me. They are hard for my brother bishops, for the pope, for our priests, for all who work for the church. And, certainly, they are hard for you.

I pray you will not lose heart.

I hope all of us, when we are dispirited by all this negative news, will keep in mind the incredible good the church does in our community and our world every single day. That good work does not, of course, heal the hurt caused by abusers. But I do hope that recalling what we are capable of as a church and as people of faith it will bolster our confidence and our faith.

Please join me in my fervent prayer that our church will indeed conquer this issue of sexual abuse -- that our church will be safer and holier for our children. I believe that our determined effort will, with God’s good grace, deliver us from this evil.

Peace to all.

This message from Bishop Matthew Clark originally appeared in The Catholic Courier newspaper (2004)

Abuse-prevention efforts 'on course'

I have written to you regularly during the past two years on the issue of sexual abuse of children and young people by church personnel. I have done so because I believe firmly in clear and consistent communication on this issue, which has caused so much pain for the victims and for all in our church who care so deeply about our youth and vulnerable adults.

Further, I believe that keeping you informed of our progress will help in the healing process, as well as arm all of us with the knowledge we need to attack this issue not just in our church, but also in the larger American society where, sadly, sexual abuse is widespread.
In this spirit, I want to share with you today news that I believe affirms we are very much on the right course as we strive to create a safe and holy environment for all in the Church of Rochester:
Following an audit by the independent Gavin Group of Boston, our diocese has again been found to be in full compliance with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
The audit, which the USCCB authorized to be conducted in all U.S. dioceses and eparchies in 004, is a follow-up to one conducted last fall. In that first audit, we also were found to be in compliance. Both findings are important because in each review the auditors have provided objective analysis and independent critique of our local work on this issue.
You will recall that the charter, which the nation’s Catholic bishops adopted in 2002, requires that each diocese of the United States initiate specific actions to create safe environments. Among these are background checks of priests, seminarians, employees and volunteers; awareness training and public outreach; and well-communicated standards of behavior for people in positions of trust.
The charter also directs action in the following areas: healing and reconciliation of victims and urvivors; prompt and effective response to allegations; cooperation with civil authorities; disciplining offenders; and providing for means of accountability through a national Office of Child and Youth Protection and a National Review Board.
Our diocese was found to be in full compliance with all of these stringent requirements in the most recent audit conducted the week of Sept. 13-17 by two retired Federal Bureau of Investigation agents now working for the Gavin Group. The auditors, who spent a week in our diocese, reviewed not only our policies and practices in such areas as training, prevention and outreach, but also interviewed several diocesan officials directly responsible for overseeing fulfillment of the provisions of the charter, including me. In addition, the auditors also interviewed past victims of abuse and some members of our independent review board, which is chaired by retired Monroe County Sheriff Andrew P. Meloni Jr. The nine-member review board was established locally to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse and advise me on these matters.
The Gavin Group reported to the diocese it found that, in keeping with the requirements of the charter, the diocese has a working policy on the prevention of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy and “well-publicized” standards of ministerial behavior. The auditors also found that we do provide needed outreach and assistance through meetings and other services, and that we properly communicate the method of making a complaint.
The Gavin Group also reported that we have established proper mechanisms to ensure prompt response when abuse is reported. In addition, the report said the diocese has been found to be in full compliance with not only canonical procedures involving investigation and disposition of allegations, but also civil laws. Finally, the auditors determined that the diocese has established an effective and cooperative liaison with law-enforcement officials.
Of course, the audit is an affirmation, but not an end, to the work ahead, which continues and grows. Please know that we are fully committed to ensuring that we promote healing and econciliation, guarantee effective response to allegations and protect the faithful in the future.
As a way of continuing our outreach, we will present on Dec. 4 our second Day of Hope and Healing for victims of sexual abuse by clergy and members of the victims’ families. This quiet day of reflection will be at St. Patrick Church Parish Center in Victor. I will be present at that gathering. Meanwhile, I have continued to meet individually with victims of abuse whenever they have felt such a meeting would be helpful to them.
Other work goes on. You will be interested to know that our diocese has conducted more than 12,000 background checks and thousands of hours of training with people who work and minister professionally in the church and the kind and generous people who volunteer in scores rograms at every parish, our Catholic schools and other ministries. That training will continue. I thank all of you for your understanding and cooperation in this crucial, ongoing effort. (Those interested can view our training video at www.dor.org under the Creating a Safe Environment section, where you will also find historical statistics, our Code of Conduct and other important information, including how to reach our victims’ assistance coordinators.)
In addition, we are working on a special program that will help parents understand the issue better and educate their children -- all with the goal of keeping them safe.
I must also add that some of you may be wondering, “why does the bishop keep talking about this issue and writing about it? There already has been so much bad news in the media about theCatholic Church.”
I understand this reaction. But while it is true that we have had no additional priests accused of sexual misconduct in more than a year, we owe it to ourselves as a faith community striving to be holy, to the victims of the past and to the most vulnerable among us to keep the issue in front of us.
Having learned from the past, now let us be the force and example for change and awareness -- not only in our church, but in all of our society, so that our children and all those who are vulnerable will be better protected no matter where they go.
We must promise them that.
Peace to all.

Victims of abuse always have a right to report to the civil authorities. To report a case of possible sexual abuse and to receive help and guidance from the Diocese of Rochester, victims are encouraged to contact the victims’ assistance coordinators appointed by Bishop Clark: Barbara Pedeville: 585/328-3228, ext. 1215, or 800/388-7177, ext. 1215.

TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT

AN OPEN LETTER BY MOST REV. MATTHEW H. CLARK

January 2004

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I have communicated to you many times over the past years about the issue of sexual abuse by clergy. In all my communications, both directly and through our local media, I have tried to express the enormity of my own personal sorrow and disappointment over this issue, which I have said is one of the most difficult issues of my four decades of priesthood and nearly 25 years as your Bishop.

In those communications and in such other ways as the recent diocesan-sponsored Day of Reconciliation in Canandaigua with victims of clergy sexual abuse and their families, our Diocese has sought to reach out to those who were hurt in the past by the behavior of some of our priests. I have offered then - and I offer now - my sincere apologies on behalf of our local Church, and a personal pledge to each and every one of the victims and to all our faithful: We will work tirelessly and do everything within our power to prevent such incidents now and in the future. This we promise.

One of the most important ways we can create a safe and holy environment for all - but especially for our children, young people and vulnerable adults - is to firmly grasp whether we are on the right course in our work toward that end. Also crucial is that we understand the scope of the problem in our past. Regarding those issues, I want to inform you of two important matters.

First, I am very pleased to announce that an audit by an independent firm has found the Diocese of Rochester in full compliance with the provisions of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

The finding of full compliance by an independent body is a clear indicator that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe and holy environment for all children, youth and vulnerable adults.

The Charter, which the Catholic bishops of the United States adopted in 2002 and which had my full support, requires that each Diocese of the United States initiate specific actions to create safe environments. Among these actions is to conduct background checks of all employees, volunteers and others; awareness training; and public outreach. The Charter also directs action in the following areas: healing and reconciliation of victims and survivors; prompt and effective response to allegations; cooperation with civil authorities; disciplining offenders; and providing means of accountability for the future to ensure effective future handling of the problem through a national Office of Child and Youth Protection and a National Review Board.

I am confident we are taking the right steps to accomplish our mission of prevention through such measures as criminal background checks of all employees and volunteers who work with minors and vulnerable adults, through a new Pastoral Code of Conduct, and the extensive and multi-layered awareness training we are providing.

We will be ever vigilant.

The audit of our policies and procedures was thorough. A former FBI agent and a former Illinois state trooper working for the Gavin Group of Boston - the private firm contracted by the U.S. bishops to conduct the audits - examined records and policies and conducted interviews with me and other key diocesan officials over a one-week period in September. At the request of the auditors, the Diocese revised and distributed a pamphlet on procedures for filing a complaint, updated existing priest personnel policies to be consistent with the Charter and provided an implementation plan for "safe environment" training pertaining to parents and children.

Out of fairness to other dioceses whose reviews were not yet completed, we withheld information about the local results until all dioceses had been audited and a national report could be issued today. The local audit determined that the program and policies we have put into place are in compliance with the Charter. Other Dioceses in the country have sought at least one tool we are using: a video we produced with the help of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to train volunteers in preventing sexual abuse and related issues.

Some of these steps are not new. The Diocese of Rochester has had a sexual-abuse policy in place since 1993, and was among the first in the nation to initiate specific programs designed to raise awareness and prevent abuse. Over the past two years, the amount of training of employees was increased, and all of the steps required by the Charter were initiated.

With the validation of our recent audit, I am very confident that we can continue to work toward a better future and much greater awareness of the problem of sexual abuse, and that we have the right tools in place to accomplish that.

We simply will not tolerate any other course.

In addition to the audit results and in keeping with our policy of openness and candor concerning this issue, this week we also have released publicly local statistics pertaining to the number of clerics accused of sexual misconduct and abuse involving minors dating back more than one-half century -- to 1950 -- and the amount of financial assistance provided to those who filed complaints.

The Diocese of Rochester reviewed its records on sexual abuse by clergy as part of a national study on the scope and nature of the problem. The National Review Board, the group that has been asked to monitor the process for the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States, commissioned the study. The study is being conducted under the direction of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, which was selected because of its reputation for research and education in the areas of forensic science, criminology and human behavior. The national results of the study, which involves every Diocese, eparchy and religious order in the United States, will be released nationally next month.

Even one case of sexual abuse of a child by a cleric would be one too many.

Our local Church must not shirk from these numbers, even as we bear the weight of the hurt they have caused. For knowledge of the past can only help us do more to protect those people who count on us today and in the future.

In our examination of the records, we have determined that:

• A total of 114 allegations were received in the past 53 years. It is interesting to note that more than two-thirds of those, dating back decades, were received in year 2002, at the height of media coverage and public awareness surrounding the issue.
  
• Over this more than half-century, 1,706 clerics have served within the Diocese of Rochester. Of those, 36 diocesan priests - or approximately 2 percent - were the subject of allegations:
  
• As a result of these complaints, 18 clerics were suspended or resigned.
  
• Six clerics who were the subject of complaints were deceased by the time the complaints were filed.
  
• Allegations involving six clerics were unfounded.
  
• The cases against six clerics had insufficient information or were not substantiated.
  
• We have never received a complaint about any priest ordained after 1980. We attribute this fact to more rigid screening and training, increased awareness and other changes imposed in that time period and since.
  
• The Diocese has provided a total of approximately $1.51 million in financial assistance and other payments relating to sexual misconduct on the part of clergy. Of that figure, approximately $1.24 million was for treatment, compensation or payment to victims. Legal fees totaled approximately $270,000. Insurance paid approximately $831,000 of the total. For perspective, it is noteworthy that the diocesan insurance program paid a total of $12.5 million in one 10-year period (1992-2002) for property damage, personal liability, workers compensation and related items. Money raised through the Partners in Faith capital campaign has not been used for any such payments.

We have learned so much as a Church -- and as a society -- about this issue over time. Many people may have forgotten that, until the 1980s, pedophilia was viewed as a treatable psychiatric disorder. We relied on psychiatric experts to advise on whether an afflicted priest could serve in ministry again. But studies conducted by a religious order in the mid-1980s determined that the disorder was, in fact, not treatable. As a result, we cannot and will not place an offender back in ministry.

Despite extensive and ongoing national media attention, I must also tell you that it would be an equally tragic mistake for the community to think that the issue of sexual abuse and misconduct involving children is solely a "Catholic Church problem."

In American society and, indeed, throughout the world, the problem of sexual abuse of children is widespread, very real and very disturbing. According to the well-respected National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one in five girls and one in 10 boys in America will be sexually abused by the time they reach adulthood. A 1990 study stated that 27 percent of women and 16 percent of men had been sexually abused by age 16. Many experts agree that the true ratio for boys is likely higher, but that a higher percentage of males are reluctant to report the abuse.

One of the reasons the other Catholic bishops of the United States and I sought this national study was to better understand the causes, frequency and context of this issue not only within the Church, but also in the larger American context.

While the problem within the Church is tragic, I also believe we lack a framework in which fully to understand the local and national church numbers as part of the national problem in the larger society. Few, if any, institutions, to my knowledge, have undertaken a study as comprehensive as that conducted for the U.S. bishops by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I encourage these institutions to conduct similar research and to act accordingly to institute programs of prevention and awareness, if they have not already done so.

As a society, we must act together and with zeal to take whatever steps are necessary to grapple with this problem and create a safe environment for all.

And please rest assured that we will make every effort to achieve that goal in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.

With every good wish, I remain,

Your Brother In Christ,

+Matthew H. Clark

Bishop of Rochester

Bishop Matthew H. Clark Addresses Issue of Sexual Abuse

As stories of sexual abuse of children by priests emerge in some dioceses throughout our country, I continue to experience a range of emotions, which I no doubt share with almost every member of our community of faith. Certainly one of them is anger. It is deplorable that anyone - priest, teacher, coach, counselor, etc. - would commit such a horrible crime against the most innocent of our family, our young ones.

In addition to anger there is a deep sense of sadness and pain. I feel deeply for the victims of such crimes and their families given the great emotional trauma they have experienced. Others have been hurt as well, including the dedicated men of our Presbyterate. I can tell you that the vast majority of my brother priests are honest, generous men who love and respect the people whom they serve. Most notably this includes our young people, whom our priests treasure and wish to support and encourage in any way they can. Because of the deplorable actions of a few, all of our priests now are subject to being painted with a broad brush. It saddens me deeply that some feel self conscious about their normal interaction with young people, concerned that they are viewed with suspicion.

I would like to assure you that, in addition to sharing your deep sadness and outrage at what has transpired, the Diocese of Rochester takes very seriously allegations of sexual misconduct involving our priests. For many years now, we have had very aggressive, proactive policies in place to deal with this and related issues - policies that in fact supercede in scope those recommended by the USCCB in its series of documents Restoring Trust: A Pastoral Response to Sexual Abuse issued during the last decade.

The policies I reference apply not only to priests within our diocese, but to all diocesan and parish employees. All employees are required to participate in a daylong Sexual Misconduct Workshop. Because abusers such as pedophiles may not recognize their own behavior as abhorrent, we strive to equip others around them with the knowledge and training to spot and report such actions. And while some may point to our number of seminarians as low, that is due in part to the rigorous screening we conduct before accepting candidates for the priesthood.

Any time allegations are made that one of our priests has committed some form of sexual misconduct our first concern is to effect spiritual and emotional healing for the alleged victim, and to ensure the safety of the rest of the community. I have designated two staff members, one lay and one ordained, to handle preliminary investigations involving cases of alleged sexual abuse. If the allegations are deemed credible, the priest is immediately placed on administrative leave and removed from his ministry.

An advisory panel also participates in investigations and forwards to me its recommendations for appropriate action. This panel is comprised primarily of lay people, including independent mental health professionals, attorneys, and members of our human resources department. These talented and dedicated individuals are a tremendous resource to us, and I lean heavily on their advice.

Particularly troubling to me is the generalization that the issue of sexual abuse is one that has been "swept under the rug." You may not realize that up until the mid 1980's, the contemporary literature and psychiatric community viewed pedophilia as a treatable disorder. We relied on the wisdom of the day in deciding whether a priest could be placed back in ministry. Studies conducted in the mid 1980's by a religious order, however, found that this disorder was, in fact, not treatable. As a result, our policies have changed and we simply cannot and will not put an offender back in ministry.

The issue of mandatory reporting is also being hotly debated and new legislation may be pending. We will surely comply with any such legislation, but I can only hope that it is shaped in a context of thoughtful discussion and not as the result of the angry, volatile climate that currently exists. While we have always presented to victims and their families the option of reporting the alleged incident to civil authorities, our experience is that many victims would not have come forward if they knew they were to become part of a public process or investigation. To this point, we have respected their right to privacy. In the cases that have been forwarded for prosecution, we have cooperated to the fullest extent.

As I mentioned previously, we have been very proactive in dealing with the issue. I would once again invite anyone who believes he or she has been subject to inappropriate behavior on the part of a diocesan priest to call Fr. Bob Ring at (315) 536-7459, or Barbara Pedeville at (585) 328-3210. They will offer immediate response and assistance.

In closing, I would ask for your prayers for those innocent victims who have been harmed by those they trusted, and for the priests of our diocese, the vast majority men of the highest integrity who have answered a call and committed their lives to serving the people of God. During this holy season I will join you in prayer, trusting that God will grant healing and peace of heart to all who yearn for those precious gifts.

Peace to all.