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, 2017, to June 30, 2018 (the most recent figures available), the diocese ran 3,940 background checks, which are required on an ongoing basis for all diocesan employees and volunteers. Since 2002, more than 60,000 background checks have been processed.
Since 2002, more than 51,000 adults have received training in the safe environment awareness program entitled “Protecting God’s Children.”
“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 $1.3 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 more than $630,000.
Since 2010, the diocese has reported costs incurred in connection with sexual abuse or misconduct lawsuits totaling approximately $1.4 million.
Diocesan self-insurance reserves 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
By the numbers
$1.3 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
More than $630,000: Assistance to sexual abuse victims for counseling and other medical services
$1.397 million: Legal costs incurred from clergy sexual abuse litigation, not including payments made by the diocese’s insurance carrier
Learn more
At www.charlottediocese.org/human-resources/safe-environment: Find out more about the Diocese of Charlotte’s child protection policies, sign up for “Protecting God’s Children” training, contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator, or report a claim of abuse.
Read the Diocese of Charlotte’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”