Cardinal Mahony's recent Pastoral Statement, I Will Appoint Over You Shepherds After My Own Heart, presented the ongoing efforts of the Archdiocese to make our parishes and schools safe from the tragedy of sexual abuse. As the Cardinal said, "We have striven, and will continue to strive, that such reprehensible conduct, which is seriously sinful and totally in contradiction to Jesus' example and call, be prevented whenever possible and dealt with promptly and responsibly whenever it emerges."

The purpose of this piece is to outline the steps taken in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to address allegations of abuse if they arise, with a special focus on the policy and process in place if clergy are involved.

Sexual abuse

Sadly, the abuse of minors is a tragic reality of our times. Though experts in the field agree that it most frequently occurs in families, it attracts greatest public attention when someone in a position of trust is the perpetrator. Teachers, coaches, therapists and others who violate a special relationship with someone in their care attract the greatest public attention and outrage. This is especially true when clergy are involved in abuse.

Whether the perpetrator is an uncle baby-sitting nephews and nieces, a coach with his athletes, or a priest or deacon in pastoral counseling with a troubled young person, it is abuse. Sexual abuse of adults can be more difficult to recognize. We presume that adults act consensually. The key in recognizing abuse involving adults is the position of trust or power that the perpetrator uses to manipulate a victim.

No matter where it happens or who does it, abuse involves the manipulation of a vulnerable human being. The perpetrator's position of authority or trust acts to severely inhibit or to suspend the abused person's effort to say, "No."

"When adults are involved, sexual abuse by clergy occurs when a priest or deacon takes sexual advantage of another person, when he intentionally engages in sexual contact or touching in the context of providing pastoral care, or when he is guilty of sexual harassment, such as unwanted sexual advances or suggestions. Any sexual misconduct on the part of a priest or deacon involving a minor constitutes sexual abuse" (Archdiocesan Policy on Sexual Abuse by Clergy, 1988). Abuse always involves taking advantage of a vulnerable person, using one's position, authority or trust to victimize another.

As the Cardinal outlined in his Pastoral Statement, this reality has led to thorough screening of candidates preparing for ordination in the Archdiocese. A priest who comes to the Archdiocese from another diocese or a religious order must have the pledge of his superior that there is no reason he cannot work with minors.

What happens when abuse is reported?

First and most important to remember, most people who hold positions of trust in Catholic institutions are mandated by California state law to report child abuse. Teachers, teacher's aides and counselors in our schools, therapists and social workers in our counseling agencies, nurses and doctors in hospitals, and clergy in parishes or other ministries all have the obligation to report the reasonable suspicion of child abuse to the local police or to child protective services. When any of these people know of or have reasonable suspicion of abuse, they report it to the appropriate police or protective agency. This is true for those ministering in facilities owned and operated by the Archdiocese, as well as Catholic institutions owned and operated privately by religious communities. The only exception to the obligation to report is the most sacred communications between priest and penitent.

As the Bishops of California said in their document For the Protection of Children (1998), "We believe that our first principle in protecting children is reporting their abuse to proper authorities."

If the suspected perpetrator of abuse is an employee, religious or clergyman in an Archdiocesan institution, we ask that the person who first hears the complaint would also report the suspected abuse to the appropriate supervisory office in the Archdiocese. For example, an allegation against a teacher in a school would be reported to the principal and to the Department of Catholic Schools. If a nurse in a hospital would be accused, the hospital administration would follow the appropriate personnel policies of the hospital.

Complaints against clergy are reported to the Office of Assistance Ministry. The Office of Assistance Ministry has been established recently by the Archbishop to facilitate and coordinate the pastoral response to victims in cases of abuse. A layperson with professional certification in psychology and experience in casework carries out this ministry. However, consulting psychologists assisting the Vicar for Clergy Office previously provided this same service.

If a complaint involves a priest who is a member of a religious order, the assistance minister will help establish contact with the appropriate religious superior who will investigate the claim and take appropriate action. Before a religious priest would be able to return to ministry in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Vicar for Clergy must know the results of the investigation and the action taken by the religious community. The Archdiocese then makes its own assessment as to whether or not a return to ministry here will be allowed.

If the alleged misconduct involves minors, the religious superior would have to remove the priest from his ministry in the archdiocese pending the outcome of the investigations. A priest from a religious order or another diocese who has been determined to have abused minors will not be accepted for ministry in the Archdiocese.

Anonymous complaints?

The Archdiocese cannot act on anonymous complaints of misconduct involving adults. Adults have the responsibility to stand behind allegations of misconduct.

However, for the safety of children, anonymous complaints involving minors are investigated. Anonymous complaints of abuse of minors by Archdiocesan clergy or employees can be made in writing, or by telephone to the Archdiocesan sexual abuse hotline. Yet, it must be understood right from the start that anonymous complaints are most often very difficult to verify. It is not possible to take corrective action when misconduct cannot be demonstrated. In case of an anonymous complaint, it is also not possible to offer appropriate help to someone harmed by abuse.

Next steps

Complaints of sexual misconduct are taken seriously. If at all possible, they are heard in person but written complaints are also received, acknowledged and investigated. A person delegated by the Archbishop to look into the matter works with the assistance minister to hear the complaint. From the start, the focus of the Archdiocese is on reaching out to the person who feels victimized by a clergyman. As is only fair, the clergyman is also given a full hearing. Corroborating information to establish the truth of the situation is sought out whenever possible.

In a situation involving minors, the clergyman must leave pastoral ministry pending the outcome of the investigations. If a priest or deacon is determined to have abused a minor, he will not be returned to ministry.

In cases involving adults, when it is ascertained that the complaint is valid and that abuse did indeed take place, the priest is removed from his assignment in order to be offered appropriate assessment and treatment. In situations involving adults, each case must be evaluated on an individual basis as to whether or not a priest or deacon may eventually return to some sort of ministry after appropriate treatment.

In either situation, the assistance minister also takes action to facilitate appropriate help and therapy for the victim on behalf of the Archdiocese.

If a priest must be removed from his parish, assistance is also offered to the parish staff to help in working through the trauma of having a fellow staff member removed, as well as offering training so that they will be better equipped to support and minister to parishioners.

Inform the people

When a priest is removed from a parish, the parishioners receive an explanation from an appropriate representative of the Archdiocese. Through an announcement, parishioners receive accurate information provided in a timely fashion about what has happened in a particular case of alleged sexual misconduct. This announcement is most often given at Sunday Mass. While trying to respect the good name, privacy and civil rights of all involved, the announcement outlines why the priest is not ministering with his people, as well as the help and support that will be offered to parishioners.

Though a painful experience for a parish family, the overwhelming response to these announcements has been positive, recognizing that the Church is being honest with her people. However, it must be acknowledged that some people have expressed that such announcements should not take place. Nevertheless, the Archdiocese believes that accurate, respectful information prevents rumors and helps a parish community to move toward healing. Such announcements also open the door for any other victims to come forward and ask for help. The Archdiocese seeks to provide assistance or support to those involved, working toward healing the wounds caused by a tragic violation of trust.

Pastoral ministry to all God's people

In his ministry to the people of God, the Archbishop is called to be a shepherd to all his people and clergy. In situations involving accusations of sexual abuse by a priest or deacon, he must strive to be the shepherd of all parties. He is called by the Gospel to seek the good of all, providing a fair hearing and pastoral help to all involved. He is also called to strive to make parishes and schools safe. No human endeavor is perfect, but the policies and procedures of the Archdiocese to address cases of abuse have been developed, and will continue to be reviewed and improved, as a concrete attempt to respond to the call of the Good Shepherd in the life of the Church.