Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 1/8/04)

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus,

Earlier this week you may have heard about the release of the bishops’ first nationwide "compliance audit." The audit (available at www.usccb.org) measures the degree to which we are following through on the commitments we made in June 2002 with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, namely, to create a safe Church for children. One and a half years later, this audit reveals that our diocese has in place nearly all of the structures and programs called for by the Charter.

The audit was undertaken in 191 of the 195 dioceses and eparchies this year by the Gavin Group, a highly respected compliance organization made up of former FBI agents. In September 2003, members of the Gavin Group came to Arlington to review our diocesan policy regarding sexual abuse of minors, safe environment programs, pastoral outreach programs and other actions that are directed by the Charter.

I am happy to say that the auditors not only found the Diocese of Arlington to be in "basic compliance" with the Charter, but also offered "commendations" for policies which the diocese had in place since 1991 to ensure the safety of children. The auditors singled out our:

— Self-developed safe environment program for adults, put in place in 1991

— Internal auditing procedures which audit parish compliance with our sexual abuse/misconduct policy, also in place since 1991

The audit also showed that our diocese has in place the following:

— Victim Assistance Coordinator

— Child Protection and Safety Program

— Review Board

— Advisory Board

The auditors also offered two "instructions," namely, to implement safe environment programs for children (Article 12 of the Charter) and background checks (Article 13) for all diocesan personnel and volunteers who come into regular contact with children. I remain firmly committed to implementing the Charter in our diocese. These two Charter components are critical, and by the time of the next audit, we will be in full compliance.

Concerning the first instruction, our diocese has previewed several safe environment programs for children, but has not settled on one yet. Secondly, while background checks have been conducted on most diocesan priests, Catholic Charities personnel and teachers, the diocese was instructed to revamp its system of background checks to include — in the words of the Charter — "the resources of law enforcement and other community agencies," e.g., cross-referencing our background checks with the central registry of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Child Protective Services Program.

Lastly, I would like to say a word about an upcoming event. As you know, honestly confronting one’s past is always crucial if one is to heal, grow as a person and not repeat the same mistakes. On Feb. 27 the John Jay Study will be released. Commissioned by the bishops in 2002, it is an unprecedented, quantitative analysis of the "nature and scope" of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy in the Catholic Church in the United States over the past 50 years. In calling for this study, it was our conviction as bishops that this painful part of our history needs to be known and confronted. Knowing our past is essential to dealing with this problem strongly, consistently and effectively in the future. Behind the statistics and numbers pertaining to abuse and victims are real human faces, names and lives irrevocably changed by the sinful and criminal actions of a few priests.

Let us continue to pray for renewal and embrace the call to holiness in this New Year, knowing that "all things are possible" (Mt 19:26) by God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness.

United with you in prayer, I remain

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde

Bishop of Arlington