Dec. 18, 2007

Audit of Diocese Finds 'Charter' Compliance

An audit of the Diocese of Brooklyn’s adherence to the U.S. Bishops’ “Charter for Protection of Children and Young People” has found it to be in compliance with the 17 articles of the document, which the bishops issued in 2002 and revised two years ago.

During a four-day audit period, Oct. 15-18, two representatives of The Gavin Group, Inc., met on site with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and the directors of diocesan offices and programs to gauge how the Diocese implemented the charter’s mandates between Nov. 30, 2005 and June 30 of this year.

In preparation for the consultation, the Diocese prepared reports on the safe environment programs and background checks that were in effect during the audit period.

Three safe environment programs provided child abuse prevention training: Virtus (derived from Latin for virtue or moral strength) Protecting God’s Children, established by the National Catholic Risk Retention group; Child Lures Prevention and Praesidium Religious Services.

Cumulatively, the programs trained 66,546 children and youths, 691 priests, including members of religious orders and those not incardinated, 177 deacons, 46 candidates for ordination and 3,357 educators. Also trained were 669 employees of diocesan and affiliated agencies, 3,475 parish employees, 14,213 volunteers and 16,213 parents.

Background checks, conducted primarily by the USIS Company and the ChoicePoint Company, were completed for the same number of priests, deacons, candidates for ordination, educators, employees of diocesan and affiliated agencies and parish employees and for 11,202 of the volunteers. 

The Gavin Group, based in Winthrop, Mass., employs former FBI and other law enforcement agents to conduct the audits of the nation’s archdioceses and dioceses under the auspices of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Over a period of several months, Auxiliary Bishop Frank J. Caggiano coordinated the development of the reports that the Diocese submitted for the audit.

                                                                      * * * * *

12/18/07