Revisions to ‘Essential Norms’ has been approved by the Holy See

Washington - The Congregation for Bishops has granted its recognitio (permission to implement) to the revised Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in June, 2005.

The decree of the Congregation, signed by its Prefect, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, grants the recognitio until otherwise provided for (donec aliter provideatur), that is, indefinitely. The decree, which is dated January 1, 2006, was received by Spokane Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the USCCB, during an April meeting at the Congregation which was part of the annual spring meetings of the officers of the USCCB with the heads of offices of the Holy See.

Bishop Skylstad has issued a decree promulgating the revised Essential Norms. They are in force as of May 15, 2006, and bind, as particular church law for the United States, all dioceses and eparchies (dioceses of the Eastern Catholic Church) of the USCCB.

A document containing essential norms was first adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in June, 2002, and was subject to discussion and revision by a mixed commission made up of representatives of the Holy See and members of the USCCB. The result of the mixed commission’s work was the original Essential Norms which were adopted by the USCCB in November, 2002. They received the required recognitio by the Congregation for Bishops on December 8, 2002, and were promulgated by the USCCB president, then-Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, on December 12, 2002.

Text of the revised Essential Norms with changes highlighted and a

side-by-side comparison of the 2002 and 2006 texts is available on the USCCB Web site. Visit www.usccb.org/ocyp/2005Revised EssentialNormsComparison.pdf.

Or, contact the diocesan Office of Communications,1400 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073.

If you or someone you know has been sexually exploited by a member of the clergy and you need to talk with someone about abuse, exploitation, or harassment, please contact the Diocese of New Ulm Victim Assistance Coordinator or the Bishop’s Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, 1400 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073; phone: (507) 359-2966.

Si usted, o alguien a quien conoce, ha sido explotado sexualmente por un clero y necesita hablar con alguien sobre abuso, explotación o acoso sexual, por favor ponerse en contacto con el Coordinador de Asistencia para Victimas de la Diócesis de New Ulm o con el Delegado del Obispo en Asuntos que Pertenecen al Abuso Sexual por Cleros de la Diócesis de New Ulm, 1400 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073; número de teléfono (507) 359-2966.