Since 1987, the Diocese has had a policy in place outlining the response to sexual abuse allegations. The policy called for a Diocesan Intervention Team (now Committee) to investigate the allegations; for the alleged victim to be given information regarding how to report the allegations to civil authorities; for the Diocese to make counseling services available to the alleged victim. The policy further stipulated that in instances where allegations against a priest were deemed credible, the priest would be removed from any parish assignment or any other assignment which would permit him access to young people.

What is the procedure since the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ meeting in Dallas in June 2002?

The Diocese of Rockford adheres to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which was approved by the bishops in Dallas and became particular law for the Catholic Church in the United States after Pope John Paul II approved it in October 2002. In keeping with the Charter, when an allegation is received, it is reported to civil authorities and referred to the Diocesan Intervention Committee.  Additionally, if the abuse involves a minor, the Department of Children and Family Services is notified. The committee’s findings are reported to the Bishop of the Diocese. If the allegations are credible, the accused will be removed from all ministry duties and the allegations will be referred to the Vatican for appropriate investigation and resolution according to Canon Law. Counseling is offered to the alleged victim, as well as to the accused. In no case is a priest who is credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor permitted to function as a priest.

What is the Church doing for the alleged victim?

When the Diocese learns of an allegation, the alleged victim is offered counseling and the Diocese reaches out to the alleged victim to begin the process of pastoral healing. The alleged victim is immediately encouraged to contact the appropriate civil legal authorities, and report the matter to the Department of Children and Family Services, or if the provisions of mandatory reporting apply, diocesan officials contact civil authorities on their own. At the same time, the Diocesan Investigator and the Diocesan Intervention Committee investigate the allegation with the intention of being able to substantiate it. Diocesan investigators make a good faith effort to investigate every allegation even if the state’s statutes of limitations on civil and criminal proceedings have expired.

At the minimum, every alleged victim meets with the Misconduct Officer of the Diocese, who is also the Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia.

You should report every instance of sexual abuse by anyone to the proper legal authorities immediately, including the Department of Children and Family Services at 1-800-25-ABUSE.  If the alleged abuser is anyone associated with the Diocese of Rockford, after you have reported the abuse to legal authorities, call the Diocese’s victim abuse line at 815-962-9347.

Part of the reason is the national publicity that has occurred. After years of silent pain, victims have learned that they were not alone and have begun to come forward. That explains why most of the alleged instances reported have been reported in just the last few years, and why most of the reports concern allegations dating back decades ago.

A priest commits to a life of celibacy and it is presumed that he lives according to that vow. When a man is ordained to the priesthood, he has every intention of adhering to that vow. However, no bishop can know of every priest’s actions at all times. The phrase "knew or should have known" is the standard for legal liability, not reality.

Sexual abuse of minors is a societal problem, and it is more widespread than most people knew until quite recently. Most abuse occurs in the home, and most abusers are family members or close, trusted friends of the family. Of course, that does not mean that most adult family members or friends of the family are abusers. In the same way, most clergy are not abusers.

The Diocese is doing many things. It screens and tests candidates for the priesthood and diaconate. It conducts ongoing training and education programs for clergy. It responds promptly and decisively to allegations of sexual abuse. It removes clergymen from ministry when the allegations against them are credible.

No, we cannot guarantee that. No one can. However, we have policies and programs in place designed to prevent abuse by anyone associated with the Diocese. Policies call for us to screen all employees and volunteers who have contact with children. Programs assure that we educate children, parents, clergy, lay employees and volunteers. The VIRTUS program, for example, teaches church personnel, parents and volunteers ways to avoid situations that could lead to sexual abuse, as well as to recognize the warning signs of a perpetrator.

In addition to requiring that all clergy participate in the VIRTUS program, the Diocese has held a series of mandatory educational programs for clergy for the past several years. The focus of these programs is on prevention and detection.

Our seminarians attend various seminaries, so the particulars of prevention efforts in their seminary experience will vary slightly. However, in all cases candidates for the priesthood in the Diocese undergo fingerprinting and background checks, as well as a battery of psychological tests and one-on-one interviews with several officials of the Diocese who are trained to spot the telltale signs of abusers. Candidates must also have lived a celibate lifestyle before being considered for ordination. Every effort is made to assure that candidates for the priesthood are well-suited in every way to live chaste lives of service and fidelity to Catholic moral teaching.