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News Releases
Sex abuse code of conduct responses being received
A Code of Conduct with regard to the sexual abuse of minors is circulating among more than 22,000 representatives of the Diocese of Brooklyn who have regular contact with young people.
Three versions of the code---for priests, deacons and pastoral ministers, for employees and for volunteers---were distributed among the 216 parishes of Brooklyn and Queens last month.
Each conforms to the mandate of the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," issued by the U.S. bishops, to "make clear" the "standards of conduct for clergy and other persons in positions of trust with regard to sexual abuse."
The codes, tailored to the role, context and degree of involvement of persons in each group, "concretize moral principles, common sense and best practice standards," said Sister Jane Ann Scanlon, C.N.D., who chairs the 11-member diocesan Committee for Education Toward an Awareness and Prevention of Sexual Abuse.
The initial report of responses to the code for clergy showed that 449 incardinated and non-incardinated priests and 96 permanent deacons had submitted their signed documents to the diocesan Safe Environment Program Office, according to Sister Patricia Hudson, C.S.J., the program coordinator.
Statistics on responses from employees and volunteers were still being assembled this week, Sister Patricia said. She was appointed to the position by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, on the recommendation of Sister Jane Ann's committee, and began her work Aug. 1.
The code for employees was produced in English and Spanish and the one for volunteers in English, Spanish and Creole, as suggested by the diocesan committee, Sister Jane Ann said.
She said that a survey sent by the bishop to pastors earlier in the year indicated that 22, 247 persons had regular contact with children and young people. Fifteen parishes were still collating their numbers.
"The large number of people in positions of trust make this ‘safe environment' effort a huge undertaking," she said. "We are steadily moving ahead, but implementation is not complete."
Because of a constant turnover of personnel, especially among employees and volunteers, "this will be an ongoing endeavor," she said.
The scope of the program coordinated by Sister Patricia also includes conducting background screening checks and offering workshops on awareness and prevention for adults and children.
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