Bishop Paul S. Loverde was installed as the third Bishop of Arlington, Va., on March 25, 1999.

The diocese was established in 1974 and encompasses 21 counties in the northern tier of Virginia. It consists of 66 parishes and 37 schools, 157 diocesan priests, 61 religious priests, 42 deacons, and serves a population of 391,000 registered Catholics. A total of 891 priests have served in the diocese since it was established.

Bishop Loverde in his letter of Feb. 18 to Catholics of the diocese wrote, "I am hopeful that with this account of our past, together with a rigorous framework to heighten the safety of children under our care, we will emerge more deeply and steadfastly committed to the call of holiness."

This report outlines instances of allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington from its establishment in 1974 to the present. It represents a compilation of data provided to the John Jay College research team for the purpose of providing the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with data about the scope of the matter in accordance with provisions in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

A review of records since the diocese was established in 1974 found that nine of the 891 diocesan and religious priests who have served in the diocese, or 1 percent, were accused of sexual abuse of minors by 11 victims. Of the nine priests, one was exonerated; two are deceased; one is retired without faculties; and the remaining five are no longer in ministry. They are not permitted to serve in any ministry, celebrate Mass publicly, administer the sacraments, wear clerical garb or present themselves publicly as priests. One permanent deacon was also accused of child sexual abuse and is no longer in ministry.

All of the alleged incidents occurred before 1994. No cases are currently pending against the diocese.

The procedures for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests have changed over the years in response to the increasing level of awareness of the damage done by the misconduct. In the 1950s and 1960s, sexual misconduct was perceived as a spiritual matter, a sin for confession with a penance to be performed with sincere contrition and a firm purpose of amendment. There was always the goal of forgiveness and redemption. The priest was sent for treatment at a residential facility or required to attend psychological counseling. Oftentimes, the recommendations from the mental health profession was that the problem had been satisfactorily addressed and that the priest could safely be returned to ministry with appropriate monitoring and psychological and spiritual support.

The severity of the problem of sexual abuse of minors reached a new level of awareness in the 1980s when allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests were widely publicized in the media.

In 1991, the second Bishop of Arlington, the Most Reverend John R. Keating (who served from 1983-98), put in place the diocesan Policy on the Protection of Children/Young People and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and/or Child Abuse. This policy was revised in 1993, 2000 and 2003 in light of the passage of the bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Since the passage of the Charter in 2002, the Diocese of Arlington has established a majority lay-person Review Board to assist Bishop Loverde in his assessment of any instances of child sexual abuse by clergy; established a majority lay-person Advisory Board, which serves in an advisory role in the formulation of child sexual abuse policies and procedures; hired a Director of Child Protection and Safety and Victim Assistance Coordinator; instituted official criminal history background checks on all priests, teachers, teachers’ aides and Catholic Charities personnel; revised its policy on sexual abuse and misconduct; updated its sexual abuse/misconduct seminars in light of the Charter; and participated in the national audit and in the national John Jay Study commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The diocese offers counseling whenever a credible allegation is made. Since the diocese was established in 1974, approximately $55,000 has gone to victim counseling and settlements. In addition, the diocese has incurred approximately $100,000 in legal fees in connection with alleged instances of sexual abuse of minors. These expenses were paid through insurance and general operating revenues of the diocese. The annual diocesan fund-raising appeal (the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal) and the capital campaign (Rooted in Faith ~ Forward in Hope) funds are received as restricted gifts and used only for the areas stated in campaign materials. The diocese’s Policy on the Protection of Children/Young People and Prevention of Misconduct and/or Child Abuse is available at www.arlingtondiocese.org.

Bishop Loverde has revised the policies and procedures of the Diocese of Arlington for addressing sexual misconduct so that they are now in full conformity with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002. The Arlington Diocese’s Policy on the Protection of Children/Young People and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and/or Child Abuse is given to all clergy and diocesan employees, as well as volunteers who have contact with minors in the diocese. Each recipient is required to sign a statement that he or she has read it and agrees to abide by it. Any credible allegation regarding minors, without exception, will be reported to the appropriate civil authorities. As the Charter and our policy state, confidentiality agreements are not to be part of any settlement, unless requested by the victim.

Bishop Loverde has appointed Jennifer Alvaro, L.C.S.W., to be the director of the Child Protection and Safety Program as well as Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Diocese of Arlington. It is Alvaro’s primary duty to oversee implementation of the Charter and to coordinate the pastoral care of anyone who reports having been sexually abused as a minor by a priest or diocesan employee, including personal meetings with Bishop Loverde, as requested. This appointment is in conformity with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

To report an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, people are directed to:

1. Call their local police authorities and;