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Safe Environment Program


A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP JOSEPH M. SIEGEL
​February 22, 2019

​​CONTACT INFORMATION
​

Diocese of Evansville Victim Assistance Line
812-490-9565
866-200-3004 (toll free)

Eric Girten
Vice-Chancellor/Safe Environment Coordinator
​812-424-5536
​[email protected]

​Sylvia Groves
Victim Assistance Coordinator
812-215-6962
Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline
800-800-5556

Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service
800-276-1562
ReportBishopAbuse.org

Local Law Enforcement
​9-1-1

Adult Protective Services State Hotline
800-992-6978


REPORTING PROCESS
​

Indiana is a mandatory report state, meaning you are required by law to report cases of suspected neglect, battery or exploitation.  All reports are confidential.
​
  1. ​If you suspect the abuse or neglect of a minor, contact the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline number above
  2. If you suspect the abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult, contact the Indiana Dept. of Adult Services number above
  3. If you believe a minor or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement at the number above.
  4. ​If the sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult involves a priest, deacon, candidate for ordination, pastoral minister, administrator, staff person or volunteer of the Diocese of Evansville, also contact the Victim Assistance Line at the number above.

​DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE FRAMEWORK FOR YOUTH PROTECTION 
​              ​
OVERVIEW AND VISION​
​The Diocese of Evansville works with parents, civil authorities, educators, and various organizations in the  community to make and maintain the safest environment for minors. The vision for our diocese is one wherein:
  • youth are recognized and valued by all as true gifts from God
  • safe environment training is provided to all clergy, employees, candidates for ordination, and volunteers that have regular contact with minors
  • age-appropriate training is provided for children/youth in regard to personal safety
  • all clergy, employees, candidates for ordination, and volunteers who have regular contact with children are  evaluated to determine their suitability for association with minors
  • all clergy, employees, candidates for ordination, and volunteers accept responsibility to report immediately any suspected acts of abuse or neglect of minors to appropriate civil and church authorities without concern for retribution from the accused or  employers/institution in whose name they minister
  • all who are willing to engage in ministry to minors as representatives of the Catholic Diocese of Evansville are also willing to agree to background checks and training programs designed to stem this heinous crime against children and young people
  • the Catholic Diocese of Evansville will expend resources, both in personnel and finances, necessary to fulfill this vision and to maintain such programs appropriate to  accomplish this vision

CHARTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (the Charter) is a comprehensive set of procedures established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2002 for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.  The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse.  It was revised in 2005, 2011 and 2018. 

A Statement of Episcopal Commitment and the Essential Norms are in the same booklet as the Charter but are not part of the Charter itself.

DIOCESAN REVIEW BOARD
​

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People stipulates that each bishop must establish a review board to function as a confidential, consultative body to the bishop on matters related to the response of the local church to issues surrounding the sexual abuse of minors by priests and deacons.  The review board, established by the bishop, will be composed of at least five persons of outstanding integrity and good judgement in full communion with the Church.  The majority of the review board members will be lay persons who are not in the employ of the diocese; but at least one member should be a priest who is an experienced and respected pastor of the diocese, and at least one member should have particular expertise in the treatment of the sexual abuse of minors.  In every case that an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric is presented to the diocese, the matter shall be brought to the attention of the diocesan review board.

Diocesan Review Board members are:
  • Dominic Faraone, Ph.D., Chairperson
  • Craig Jordan, Vice-Chairperson
  • Lisa Provost, M.S.
  • Rev. David Nunning
  • Julie Bassler
  • Daniel Tuley, J.D.
  • ​Gene Schadler, LCSW​

A Diocesan Review Board Resource Booklet is available here.

ACCOUNTABILITY 
​

​All parishes and schools in the Diocese of Evansville are to be in compliance with the Charter.  The Diocese of Evansville is audited to confirm its compliance with the requirements of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.  Parishes and schools are required to report compliance information to the diocesan Safe Environment Program, so that necessary information can be presented to auditors on an annual basis.  Every three years, auditors perform an onsite audit that includes documents review, interviews and parish/school visits.

AUDIT COMPLIANCE LETTER, 2021
AUDIT PARTICIPATION LETTER, 2022
AUDIT PARTICIPATION LETTER, 2023
AUDIT COMPLIANCE LETTER, 2024
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
​
TRAINING FOR CLERGY, EMPLOYEES, CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION, AND VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH MINORS
CMG connect is a web-based platform that will assist us to ensure that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within our schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.

“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three-part video which provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.  Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding. 

Education is the key element of the Safe Environment program. All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel and volunteers over the age of 18, who work in any capacity with or around children, the elderly, and adults with special needs are required to complete the Diocesan Safe Environment Online Training. All individuals listed above must submit to a criminal background check before they may begin employment or volunteer with ministries, groups, movements, and organizations.

In addition, all individuals listed above must complete the mandatory online refresher training each year upon the year anniversary of the prior training and submit a new background check every 5 years as a condition of continued ministry and/or continued employment in the Diocese of Evansville. To take the Safe Haven basic program simply click on the link below:

For the education of minors, the Diocese utilizes Circle of Grace

​EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR CHILDREN/YOUTH, PARENTS, CLERGY, EMPLOYEES, CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION, AND VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH MINORS - Please see the Education and Training section below.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL CLERGY, EMPLOYEES, CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION, AND THOSE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH MINORS - Please see the Criminal Background Checks Resources section below.
​CATHOLIC BISHOP ABUSE REPORTING SERVICE
​
Catholic dioceses in the United States have established a third-party reporting system to gather and relay reports of sexual misconduct involving bishops of the United States, and reports of their intentional interference in a sexual abuse investigation.  

The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service contact information is at the top of this page.   (En Espanol).

FAQ 
​
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 
​
1. DIOCESAN REPORT AND INFORM POLICY / REGLAMENTO DIOCESANO DE INFORMAR Y DENUNCIAR ​which includes details about how to make a report of suspected abuse or neglect of a minor.  A PDF of the policy is available here.  Indiana is a mandatory reporting state; anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused must by law make a report.  The Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is 1-800-800-5556.
​
2. DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS BY CLERGY / REGLAMENTOS Y PROCEDIMIENTOS SOBRE ALEGATOS DE ABUSO SEXUAL DE MENORES DE EDAD POR PARTE DEL CLERO

BEST PRACTICES FOR PASTORAL CONDUCT / MEJORES PRACTICAS PARA LA CONDUCTA PASTORAL CON LOS MENORES DE EDAD - Includes standards of conduct for clergy, employees, candidates for ordination, and volunteers

BEST PRACTICES FOR ADULTS WHO WORK WITH MINORS / MEJORES PRACTICAS PARA ADULTOS QUE TRABAJAN CON MENORES DE EDAD - Includes additional standards of conduct for clergy, employees, candidates for ordination, and volunteers

​TRANSPARENCY

LIST OF CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CLERGY
​

​​​Diocesan Report and Inform Policy 

Children are the most important gifts God has entrusted to us.  The Diocese of Evansville is committed to safeguarding minors, who are persons under eighteen (18) years of age.
 
Immediately report the suspected abuse or neglect of a minor to the Department of Child Services (DCS) or to a local law enforcement agency.
  • State of Indiana DCS Hotline: 1-800-800-5556
  • Local law enforcement:  9-1-1
 
If a bishop has (a) performed sexual acts with a minor or a vulnerable person; (b) forced someone to perform or to submit to sexual acts through violence, threat, or abuse of authority; (c) produced, exhibited, possessed, or distributed child pornography, including by electronic means, or recruited or induced a minor or vulnerable person to participate in pornographic exhibitions; or (d) executed actions or omissions intended to interfere with or avoid a civil or Church (canonical) investigation into allegations of sexual abuse committed by a cleric or religious:  after reporting to DCS or to a local law enforcement agency, inform the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting service, which is a third-party reporting service for gathering and relaying such reports to the appropriate Church authorities.

 
If the sexual abuse of a minor involves a priest, deacon, candidate for ordination, pastoral minister, administrator, staff person, or volunteer:  after reporting to DCS or to a local law enforcement agency, inform the diocesan victim assistance coordinator.
  • Toll-free:  866-200-3004
  • Local:  812-490-9565
 
​The sexual abuse of a minor also includes:
  • A vulnerable person is any person in a state of infirmity, physical or mental deficiency, or deprivation of personal liberty which, in fact, even occasionally limits their ability to understand or to want or otherwise resist the offense.
  • Child pornography, which is any representation of a minor, regardless of the means used, involved in explicit sexual activities, whether real or simulated, and any representation of sexual organs of minors for primarily sexual purposes.

Reglamento Diocesano de Informar y Denunciar

Los niños y jóvenes son los regalos más importantes que Dios nos ha confiado. La Diócesis de Evansville se compromete a proteger a los menores de edad, que son personas menores de dieciocho (18) años.

Haga un informe de inmediato de la sospecha de abuso o negligencia de un menor de edad al Departamento de Servicios para Niños (DCS por sus siglas en inglés) o a una agencia local de policía.
  • Línea directa al DCS del estado de Indiana: 1-800-800-5556
  • Agencia local de policía: 9-1-1

Si un obispo ha (a) realizado actos sexuales con un menor de edad o una persona vulnerable; (b) forzado a alguien a realizar o someterse a actos sexuales mediante el uso de violencia, amenazas o abuso de autoridad; (c) producido, mostrado, tenido en su posesión, o distribuido pornografía infantil, incluyendo por medios electrónicos, o atraído o inducido a un menor o persona vulnerable a participar en demostraciones pornográficas; o (d) cometido por sus acciones u omisiones algo para interferir o evitar una investigación civil o eclesial (canónica) sobre alegaciones de abuso sexual cometido por un clérigo o religioso: después de informar a DCS o a una agencia local de policía, haga un informe al servicio de Informes sobre abusos de un obispo católico que es un servicio independiente para reunir y transmitir tales informes a las autoridades eclesiásticas apropiadas.
Si un sacerdote, diácono, candidato a la ordenación, ministro pastoral, administrador, miembro del personal o voluntario fue involucrado en el abuso sexual de un menor de edad: después de informar a DCS o a una agencia local de policía, haga un informe al Coordinador diocesano de asistencia para las víctimas.
  • Llamada gratuita: 866-200-3004
  • Local: 812-490-9565

El abuso sexual de un menor de edad tambien incluye:
  • Una persona vulnerable es cualquier persona en estado de enfermedad, de deficiencia física o psicológica, o de privación de la libertad personal que, de hecho, limite incluso ocasionalmente su capacidad de entender o de querer o, en cualquier caso, de resistir a la ofensa.
  • Material pornográfico infantil, que es cualquier representación de un menor, independientemente de los medios utilizados, involucrado en actividades sexuales explícitas, reales o simuladas, y cualquier representación de órganos sexuales de menores con fines predominantemente sexuales.

APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
​
Every April, child and youth serving organizations including Catholic dioceses, participate in National Child Abuse Prevention Month to highlight the importance of protecting minors from abuse.  Resources, including a  Diocesan Resource and Rosary Booklets for healing and protection, are available here.  

POPE FRANCIS' Motu Proprio, Vos estis lux mundi
​("You are the light of the world")

In May 2019, Pope Francis released the Motu Proprio Vos estis lux mundi ("You are the light of the world"), which ordered a worldwide response to the evil of sexual abuse.  It calls for the establishment of easily accessible reporting systems, clear standards for the pastoral support of victims and their families, timeliness and thoroughness of investigations, whistleblower protection for those making allegations, and active involvement of the laity.  

In June 2019, the U.S. Catholic Bishops approved three additional measures to address abuse and bishop accountability.  The measures expand upon Pope Francis' Motu Proprio and the U.S. Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.  The reforms are designed to hold bishops accountable for instances of sexual misconduct against minors and vulnerable adults.

1. POPE FRANCIS MOTU PROPRIO VOS ESTIS LUX MUNDI

2. PROTOCOL REGARDING AVAILABLE NON-PENAL RESTRICTIONS ON BISHOPS
This form of accountability provides protocols for imposing limitations on former bishops who were removed from office for grave reasons. It also empowers the USCCB president to restrict bishops removed or resigned for reasons related to sexual abuse or abuse of power.

3. AFFIRMING OUR EPISCOPAL COMMITMENTS
This accountability measure implements a bishop code of conduct, including the affirmation that the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is expanded to include bishops as well as priests and deacons.

4. DIRECTIVES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF VOS ESTIS LUX MUNDI CONCERNING BISHOPS AND THEIR EQUIVALENTS
Presents a plan for optimal implementation of Pope Francis’s recent Motu proprio in the United States, including an outline for lay involvement.

ADDITIONAL USCCB RESOURCES