Bishop begins to implement abuse charter

He voted yes for passage with majority

Less than 48 hours after returning from the meeting of the U.S. bishops in Dallas, where he voted in favor of a new national policy on sexual abuse of children by clergy, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard set to work implementing it in the Albany Diocese.

On June 14, the U.S. bishops overwhelmingly approved their "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." The vote was 239-13, with Bishop Hubbard among the 239.

Establishing a "one-strike-you're-out" policy of zero tolerance, the charter says that "for even a single act of sexual abuse of a minor -- past, present or future -- the offending priest...will not remain in ministry and will not receive a future assignment."

'Committed' to policy

"I am fully committed to every aspect" of the new policy, he said. "It's a very good charter."

He told the directors that the meeting had been "somber and tense," and described the opening address by Bishop Wilton Gregory as "masterful and eloquent. It couldn't have been better."

Bishop Gregory, as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, apologized on behalf of his peers to victims of abuse and their families for what bishops had done or failed to do.

Already in place

For example, the bishops in Dallas called for an end to confidentiality agreements with victims; those had previously been eliminated by the Albany Diocese.

The charter also requires that accusations of abuse be automatically reported to civil authorities. That echoes existing Albany diocesan policy.

Implementation

* He will "address immediately" the removal of some priests from ministry in order to carry out the charter's policy of removing from ministry all priests who have abused minors, regardless of how long ago the incident occurred, how successfully the priests have undergone treatment, or how much good they have done since;

* The Diocese will establish programs or re-orient existing ones to meet the charter's call for outreach to victims, for an assistance coordinator to offer pastoral care to those who allege they have been victimized and for public dissemination of diocesan policies on abuse;

* Clear standards of ministerial behavior will be developed and promulgated;

* A communications policy that "reflects a commitment to...openness," as the charter puts it, will be devised;

* A "safe environment program" will be created or adapted from existing sources; and

* Background checks on all diocesan employees and volunteers who work with children will be conducted.

At the meeting, Bishop Hubbard indicated which departments -- Catholic schools, the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, the Tribunal, and Catholic Charities among them -- would be involved in fulfilling the charter's requirements.

(06-20-02) [[In-content Ad]]