WHAT'S NOT IN THE LETTER
We considered including a number of recommendations in the letter that we eventually removed or decided against, for a number of reasons. On this page, you can find some recommendations we did not include, along with some of the reasons for those decisions. Certainly, much more needs to be done, and many of these policies and protocols can be expanded.
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What was not included:
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A call for increased transparency by external auditing of the Archdiocesan finance reports.
As part of the Management Discussion and Analysis and Financial Statements, the Archdiocese clarified that its CPA firm would work under Agreed Upon Procedures during the Reorganization. However, after this process is completed, the Archdiocese intends to return to its standard practice of a annual independent audits, with release promptly after completion of the financial statements and auditor’s report. Additional information here.
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A zero tolerance policy
This is covered by a number of the Archdiocesan child protection protocols. For example: “The Archdiocese shall not recommend any clergy for a position in active ministry (i.e., those clergy with permission to exercise priestly ministry to the faithful) or a position that provides for access to minors, who has a pending credible or previously substantiated claim of sexual abuse of a minor against him.”
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In addition, the Archdiocese is required to report to law enforcement and will not be involved in the case unless authorized: "When the Archdiocese receives a report of child sexual abuse and makes a mandated report to law enforcement pursuant to Minnesota statutes, the Archdiocese shall not conduct an internal investigation and will not interfere in any way with law enforcement until law enforcement concludes its investigation, closes its file without an investigation, or authorizes the Archdiocese to proceed with its investigation."
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Publicly disclose all incidents of abuse of minors
Protocol 14 of the child protection protocols states: “Public disclosure of substantiated claims of sexual abuse by clergy and those facing pending credible claims that are under investigation shall be ongoing. The disclosures will be updated when a claim is determined to be substantiated, whether from the review of clergy files by outside experts or otherwise. In every such case, the Archdiocese will add the name of the clergy member to the disclosure section of its website. The Archdiocese will also disclose the names of clergy deemed unsuitable for ministry under circumstances that arise, in whole or in part, out of accusations or risk of sexual abuse of a minor. Public disclosures under this paragraph shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable but, in any event, no later than forty five (45) days after the relevant determination. The Archdiocese will also share this information with the public by issuing and posting a press release on its website.”
In addition, protocol 15 states: “15. With regard to a substantiated claim of sexual abuse of a minor, at the conclusion of the canonical process for determination of clerical status, documents pertaining to the accusation of sexual abuse of a minor and the Archdiocese’s response to the claim will be made accessible to the public.”
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Inform the laity about the need to begin reports of clerical abuse of minors with contacting law enforcement.
Protocol 5 of the Archdiocesan child protection protocols states: “The Archdiocese shall publish in the Catholic Spirit four times per year for five (5) years and one time per year for an additional five (5) years thereafter a statement urging those subject to the sexual abuse of a minor to contact law enforcement to make a report of the abuse.” In addition, protocol 6 states: “6. The Archdiocese shall continue to provide information in writing to parishes and schools regarding the prevention of abuse, training to identify signs of abuse, statements that the abused are not at fault and encouraging the reporting of abuse.”
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