Bishop reviews diocesan efforts to combat abuse

One year ago, America's Catholic bishops took extraordinary, and very necessary, steps to address head-on the scandal of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct.

This week, one year after the bishops' historic meeting in Dallas, I want to report to you briefly on what we in the Albany Diocese are doing to fulfill the requirements of the bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" -- especially to comfort and assist victims, to identify and remove from ministry any Diocesan personnel who abuse children, and to ensure that children and adults are safe in every Catholic place.

Steps forward

Since last June, the Albany Diocese has:

* enforced the zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse by clerics. This means that no priest or deacon can remain in public ministry if an allegation of sexual abuse against him at any time has been substantiated;

* permanently removed from public ministry seven priests, placed three priests on administrative leave and granted voluntary leaves to three priests while allegations against them are investigated;

* published a comprehensive, step-by-step, diocesan-wide policy for creating safe environments for children and adults, and for receiving, investigating and responding to allegations of sexual abuse. Our Diocese has had a sexual misconduct policy since 1993, but this revision sets forth our protocols for all interaction with children and vulnerable adults, and sets clear standards for handling allegations. The policy, and the charter and norms adopted by the Catholic bishops and approved by the Vatican, on which the policy is based, both are posted on our diocesan website (www.rcda.org);

* trained more than 2,000 diocesan employees, and parish and school volunteers (including 900 teachers and staff in our Catholic schools) to spot signs of sexual abuse in children, and to create safe places for children and adults;

* established a process for background checks on diocesan employees and volunteers who work with children;

* appointed a victim/survivor assistance coordinator to ensure that the Diocese is providing full and coordinated assistance beneficial to victims and their families;

* publicly reported that the Diocese had provided $2.5 million in compensation to victims of clergy sexual abuse since 1950. From last June to May 31, 2003, the Diocese spent approximately $230,000 on counseling and other services for victims, prevention programs, and legal, consulting and other costs related to this issue. These expenses were covered by the diocesan insurance fund, which is made up of premiums paid by parishes. No funds from the Bishop's Appeal or the Diocesan Capital Campaign were used to cover these costs;

* appointed a retired senior investigator with the New York State Police to investigate allegations of sexual abuse. Any allegations received by the Diocese that are within the statute of limitations are referred immediately to local criminal authorities. Allegations about incidents beyond the statute of limitations are investigated by the diocesan investigator;

* expanded the diocesan Sexual Misconduct Review Board, created in 1993, to review the abuse complaints and findings of investigations conducted by the diocesan investigator, and to recommend action against abusers. The board is made up primarily of lay experts not employed by the Diocese;

* published and broadcast advertisements in the diocesan and secular media, encouraging all victims of sexual abuse by a Catholic cleric to come forward for assistance;

* established a toll-free information telephone number (800-931-6058) and expanded our diocesan website (www.rcda.org) to make information on the Diocese's programs to address this issue more readily available to Catholics and other members of the public.

Committed to youth

I assure you that we continue to learn from the mistakes of the past and are committed to doing everything possible to make the protection of children and young people...healing for victims and their families...and the removal from ministry of any clergy or Church personnel who have abused their position of sacred trust an urgent priority for our Diocese.

St. Paul tells us that when one member of the Body suffers, all suffer. I have witnessed first-hand the hurt, pain and long-term trauma that sexual abuse can cause, which is exacerbated when perpetrated by a trusted authority figure.

To those who have been victimized, and to their families, I again extend my sincere apology and pledge a purposeful, vigilant effort to prevent abuse from recurring.

I am fully aware of the anger, pain and loss of confidence the scandal has created in the minds and hearts of many people. For this, too, I apologize and hope that our ongoing efforts, with God's help, will be a step toward healing and the restoration of trust, and, and most especially, toward the protection of our children and young people.

With every best wish, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,

Howard J. Hubbard
Bishop of Albany

(6/19/03)