CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has been found in compliance with the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” every year since the charter’s inception.
The diocese has passed independent audits of its child protection procedures every year since 2003.
The external audit – conducted by the Gavin Group in the early years of the charter and now by Stonebridge Business Partners of Rochester, N.Y. – monitors U.S. dioceses’ compliance with the charter, which addresses the Church’s commitment to respond effectively, appropriately and compassionately to cases of abuse of minors by clergy or other Church personnel.
The audit evaluates the diocese’s efforts to ensure the protection of children, including criminal background checks and educational awareness programs on recognizing and preventing abuse.
In the fiscal year that ran from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017 (the most recent figures available), the diocese ran 4,068 background checks, which are required on an ongoing basis for all diocesan employees and volunteers. Since 2002, nearly 57,000 background checks have been processed.
Since 2002, more than 48,900 adults have received training in the safe environment awareness program entitled “Protecting God’s Children.” In the 2016-’17 fiscal year alone, the diocese held 167 “Protecting God’s Children” workshops across the diocese for 3,517 participants.
“Protecting God’s Children” helps adults learn to recognize the warning signs of abuse and the many ways that sexual abuse harms victims, families, parishes and communities. It teaches them appropriate ways to respond to suspicious behaviors and how they can help to prevent abuse.
Since 2003, the diocese has invested approximately $1.2 million in this training program.
The diocese also provides financial assistance to victims and their families for counseling and other medical services. Since 1995, that has totaled approximately $633,000.
Since 2010, the diocese has reported costs incurred in connection with sexual abuse or misconduct lawsuits totaling approximately $1.4 million.
Diocesan insurance funds and the diocesan general fund were used for payment. None of these funds came from the Diocesan Support Appeal or from parish savings.
— Catholic News Herald
More online
Read the Diocese of Charlotte’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”
At www.charlottediocese.org/human-resources/safe-environment: Get detailed information on the diocese’s Safe Environment programs
By the numbers
$1.226 million: What the Diocese of Charlotte has spent on “Safe Environment” measures, including criminal background checks and “Protecting God’s Children” workshops held across the diocese for clergy, religious, lay employees and lay volunteers
$633,000: Assistance to sexual abuse victims for counseling and other medical services
$1.397 million: Legal costs incurred from sexual abuse litigation, not already covered by insurance
How to report an allegation of abuse
Anyone having actual knowledge of or reasonable cause to suspect an incident of ministry-related sexual abuse is to immediately report the incident to civil authorities and/or the Diocese of Charlotte Chancery. The Chancery will then report the incident to the proper civil authorities.
All cases of alleged, known or suspected ministry-related sexual abuse of a minor must be reported to the proper civil authority. Anyone having actual knowledge of, or reasonable cause to suspect an incident of ministry-related sexual abuse by any Church personnel of the Diocese of Charlotte is to immediately report the incident to the Chancery, unless to do so would violate the sacrament of penance. The Chancery will then report the incident to the proper civil authority.
ONLINE: www.charlottediocese.org/human-resources/safe-environment
PHONE: Chancery at 704-370-6299 or the victim assistance line at 704-370-3363
EMAIL: David Harold, LCSW, the diocesan victim assistance coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MAIL: Chancellor, Diocese of Charlotte, P.O. Box 36776, Charlotte, N.C. 28236
