by Fr. Douglas Grams
In August, I attended a conference in Mundelein, IL near Chicago, on the topic of "sexual misconduct". One hundred and fifteen vicars for clergy, vicars general, victim advocates, psychologists and psychiatrists were in attendance. It was the clearest presentation on the topic of sexual abuse I have heard so far. "Where do we go from here?" was the question that framed the two-day conference? How can we reach out to victims and help them heal?
During the past six months, I have read and heard a great deal about the topic of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. For anyone to be harmed by a priest, especially a child, is a tragedy as well as a complete contradiction to everything the Church stands for. In order to restore that trust, we must heal and reconcile many relationships including the relationships between victims and the Church, between priests and bishops. In fact, all People of God need to open themselves to the healing power that comes from Christ. As Church, we must continue to work to restore the bonds of trust that unite us.
The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops document, The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which flows from the Bishop’s meeting in Dallas, TX this past June, now shapes how we will respond to sexual misconduct on the part of clergy in each of the 192 dioceses of the nation.
The Charter asks that each diocese in the nation establish a "safe environment" program to educate clergy, teachers, parents and students to help them identify and prevent sexual misconduct. In response, Catholic school teachers and administrators of the New Ulm Diocese will take part in a "safe environment" program during their annual fall workshop; priests and pastoral leaders will be discussing "safe environment" issues during their fall pastoral leader days; and there will be opportunities for directors of religious education and youth ministers to look at "safe environment" issues before the first of the year.
Also, as requested by the Charter, criminal background checks will be completed for all pastoral leaders, staff and volunteers who work with minors.
The Diocese of New Ulm has had a sexual misconduct policy since 1990 and a review board for sexual misconduct since 1993. As a diocese, we will continue to follow our policy, which was revised in 1994. A diligent search through each file of every priest, deacon, and pastoral administrator currently serving or who has served in the New Ulm Diocese has been completed. Although this is only a documentary investigation, to our knowledge we have no priest, deacon, or pastoral administrator serving in a parish who has ever abused a minor.
As a diocese we will continue to reach out and educate priests, teachers, volunteers, parents, and children about the reality of sexual misconduct. If you have been sexually abused by a priest, deacon, or pastoral administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm, please contact the Bishop’s Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct, (507) 359-2966.
Further information concerning the Diocese of New Ulm policy and procedures pertaining to clergy sexual misconduct can be found on the diocesan web site: www.dnu.org.
To obtain a copy of The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People go to:
www.usccb.org/bishops/charter.htmFr. Douglas Grams is Vicar General of the Diocese of New Ulm and serves as the Bishop’s Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct.
**If you have been sexually abused by a priest, deacon, or pastoral administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm, please contact the Bishop’s Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct,
(507) 359-2966.