Despite progress US bishops must remain wary of ‘complacency’ over child abuse, concludes Review Board

John Lavenburg/Crux • June 17, 2024

While the US Church has made substantial progress in addressing the abuse of children there remains a risk of complacency creeping in, the US Bishops’ Conference has been told at its spring general assembly.

The comments were made by the chair of the board created to monitor the implementation of the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, commonly known as the Dallas Charter, who called for even greater buy-in from bishops and warned against complacency.

“We must keep the child of today, the child of tomorrow, and especially that child of yesterday, at the centre of all of our decision making.” Suzanne Healy, Chair of the National Review Board, said in an address to the US bishops on 14 June.

“I am in awe of the many examples of compassionate, radical accompaniment occurring across the US,” Healy said. “Again, we cannot become complacent, and we must remain vigilant in ongoing support of these important ministries and their departments.”

Healy began her address to the bishops by commending the culture of safety they are creating.

“It is no longer responding to a crisis, but rather, it has become and continues to be ingrained in the fabric of our everyday Church culture,” Healy said. “We have much to be proud of. As a result of the commitments you and your brother bishops made in 2002, with the adoption of the Dallas Charter, we are creating a culture of safety far beyond what was envisioned nearly 25 years ago.”

Healy highlighted that this year’s audit into the implementation of the Dallas Charter found that there are still a small number of dioceses and eparchies that have yet to participate in a live on-site audit themselves, which the firm that conducts the audit said prevents them from saying the charter has been fully implemented.

Furthermore, Healy also highlighted that 70 per cent of dioceses and eparchies conduct their own parish audits that are required, meaning “we are at the risk for possible breakdowns and potential abuse” in the 30 per cent that haven’t done so. Healy also said there are instances of noncompliance both in the composition of diocesan review boards, and in the regularity of diocesan review board meetings.

With the Charter in the process of revision, Healy highlighted the “growing expectation and hope” that a similar document will be created to establish a framework for the pastoral response to adult allegations of abuse, which she said is important to implement at this time.

“It is a fact and public sentiment that abuse hurts at every age. If we don’t respond compassionately to these cases it diminishes the trust we are working so hard to restore in our Church,” Healy said. “The institutional response to these allegations appears to be lacking.”

The 14 June public session of the spring general assembly marked the end of the gathering, which was held in Louisville, Kentucky, and began on 12 June.

Photo: Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio opening the US Bishops’ Conference Plenary Assembly as President of the Conference, addressing his fellow Bishops; screenshot from USCCB’s ‘X’ social media account.