CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has passed an independent review of its compliance to nationally prescribed child protection procedures for the 21st straight year.
The yearly assessment by Stonebridge Business Partners of Rochester, N.Y., monitors U.S. dioceses’ compliance with the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” 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 review for the period of July 2020 through September 2023 was conducted in November. As a result of the detailed on-site audit, the diocese has been found to be compliant with all audited articles of the charter as it has done each year since the audits began in 2003.
The external review checks compliance with reporting requirements of the charter, including the diocese’s efforts to ensure the protection of children through criminal background checks and educational awareness programs on recognizing and preventing abuse.
In the fiscal year that ran from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, the diocese conducted 5,270 background checks, which are required on an ongoing basis for all diocesan clergy, employees and volunteers. Since 2002, more than 80,000 background checks have been conducted. That includes rechecking active volunteers and employees every five years.
A total of 3,028 adults received training in the diocese’s “Protecting God’s Children” abuse prevention awareness program. More than 63,000 adults in the diocese have received training in this program since it began in 2002.
“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 prevent abuse.
— Catholic News Herald
BELMONT — Holy Angels recently celebrated the reopening of its Life Choices Program, an adult day program designed to provide meaningful work and life skills opportunities for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The program relaunched Oct. 24 in a new location on Main Street in downtown Belmont, where Holy Angels staff and residents also launched Market on Main, a shop selling takeaway food items and goods mostly created by crew members and Life Choices Program participants.
The program offers an array of activities and daily living experiences – such as cooking, financial management, creative arts, computer skills, wellness and social skills – designed to help Holy Angels residents develop personal independence and improve their quality of life.
The goal is helping people realize who they are, what they are capable of, and how they can connect with others in a day filled with opportunities for learning.
“At Holy Angels, we believe in the potential of every individual, and we are proud to provide a nurturing environment where they can thrive,” said Holy Angels’ President and CEO Kerri Massey. “Reopening Life Choices allows us to extend our services to others in the community where there is such a need. This is a transformative program that changes the lives of so many.”
For more information about Holy Angels, go to www.holyangelsnc.org.
— Shawn Flynn