Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
Communication Policy and Procedures Introduction

 

The Book of Genesis tells us that in the beginning God spoke. It was not conversation; rather, it was creation. God’s word had effect, at once. In the books of the prophets God entrusts his word to men. It was not conversation, rather, it was about conversion. In the new covenant the Word became Flesh. It was not conversation, rather, it is salvation for all who will hear, believe and be transformed.

 

For the Church communication is about the work of God. It is about the good news, the gospel that saves and that sustains the faith community until that day when all things are made new. Each time and in every way that the Church makes known her Lord she communicates. Even in the brokenness and misdeeds of her members the Church still must speak of her Lord and of his kingdom come.

 

In 1992 the bishops of the United States developed and pledged themselves to a plan, based upon five principles, for addressing the brokenness brought about by misconduct and sexual abuse of minors. These five principles communicate a strategy for pastoral response, a hope for reform and renewal, a promise to embrace anew the work of the Lord so that recognizing the kingdom’s coming stir joyful hope.

 

These principles are:

• Respond promptly to all allegations of abuse where there is reasonable belief that abuse has occurred.
  
  
• If such an allegation is supported by sufficient evidence, relieve the alleged offender promptly of his ministerial duties and refer him for appropriate medical evaluation and intervention.
  
  
• Comply with the obligations of civil law as regards reporting of the incident and cooperating with the investigation.
  
  
• Reach out to the victims and their families and communicate sincere commitment to their spiritual and emotional well-being.
  
  
• Within the confines of respect for privacy of the individuals involved, deal as openly as possible with the members of the community.

 

Article 7 of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People directs every diocese to develop a specific policy for its communication procedures and policy. This policy is to exhibit, in wording and in application, a commitment to transparency and openness “especially with regard to assisting and supporting parish communities directly affected by ministerial misconduct involving others.”

 

The Church Community

 

1. The archdiocese’s first commitment must be pastoral care for all of its members in the name of the Lord. Within pastoral care there shall be both initiatives and responses concerning the protection of children and young people, including but not limited to:
   -- Policies and procedures for creation and maintenance of safe environments in all church related activities for its children and young people.
   -- Information and education for children, young people, parents and parish communities regarding respect for the dignity of the person, appropriate boundary practices and identification of misconduct behaviors and patterns.
   -- Procedures for response when misconduct or sexual abuse is detected and procedures for reporting the misconduct or abuse.
   -- Procedures and practices for communicating with affected parties in the pastoral situation and with the public, including the media.
   
   
2. The Archdiocesan Review Board provides informed consultation and assistance to the Archbishop, in accord with Article 2 of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and numbers 4 and 5 of the Essential Norms in regard to the policies and procedures governing the protection of children and young people in the archdiocese.
   
   
3. The Review Board may issue statements, reports or other forms of communication to pastors and priests of the archdiocese, to parish faith communities, to the general public or to media. Such communications shall take place after discussion and with the full knowledge of the Archbishop.
   
   
4. The Archdiocesan Assistance Coordinator is the representative of the Church to victims, their family members and to affected faith communities in providing immediate pastoral care for their spiritual and emotional well being.
   
   
5. The Assistance Coordinator shall coordinate immediate pastoral outreach, and the follow-up required in each situation, the Chancellor, respecting the limitations of an existing law enforcement investigation or of the condition of victims or other affected persons.
   
   
6. The Assistance Coordinator shall work with the Chancellor in making arrangements for meetings between victims, their family members or affected parish communities and the Archbishop. The Archbishop may also determine a delegate to be more appropriate in certain circumstances.
   
   
7. Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People shall serve as a framework for the response and outreach of the Archdiocese as it communicates with victims, the faith communities and the public.
   
   

The Media

 

1. The Archdiocese exists and carries out its pastoral mission in the world. Oftentimes, activities of or incidents affecting the Archdiocese are first or principally known through the secular media. Developing and maintaining an effective working relationship with the public media is an important part of the Archdiocese’s communication policy.
   
   Whenever possible the Archdiocese shall use the diocesan newspaper, Catholic electronic media and the archdiocesan web site as its first means of contact with the people of the Archdiocese. These communication tools permit the Archdiocese to present a pastoral context and perspective when addressing issues, allegations or incidents regarding the protection of children or young people.
   
   
2. The Chancellor of the Archdiocese shall serve as the archdiocesan spokesman when issues, allegation or incidents regarding the protection of children or young people occur in the archdiocese.
   
   At the direction of the Archbishop and in collaboration with the Moderator of the Curia, the Archdiocesan Assistance Coordinator, the editor of the archdiocesan newspaper and the archdiocesan legal counsel, the Chancellor shall provide timely, accurate information to parish communities, to the presbyterate of the archdiocese and to the general public through print and electronic media.
   
   This communication may take the form of statements from the Archbishop, official archdiocesan news releases from the archdiocese, responses to inquiries by the media, contextual background information or updates as consequences of a particular incident develop.
   
   
3. All communication, whether in spoken or written format, shall observe and respect the privacy and reputation of the persons involved and shall adhere to the pertinent canon and civil law requirements.
   
   
4. Pastors, school administrators, program directors and lay leaders shall refer media inquiries or the concerns from individuals or groups regarding the incident or issue to the Chancellor of the Archdiocese..
   
5. Pastors, school administrators, program directors and lay leaders shall work with the Chancellor and the Archdiocesan Assistance Coordinator so that timely, appropriate and responsible action to ensure and to respond for the sake of the protection of children and young people.

 

The Parish, the school and other programs

 

1. Each parish, school and the diverse number of child and youth programs uses a variety of means to inform, educate, build community and serve the diverse needs of its people. Pastors, school administrators, directors of programs and lay leaders have a special responsibility to use these communication tools for the protection of children and young people.
   
   
2. Each parish, school and child or youth program shall have the publicize a basic procedure that permits a pastor or administrator to communicate in a clear and timely manner with staff and volunteers when concerns, issues or incidents about the protection of children and young people occur.
   
   
3. Each parish, school and program shall provide and publicize a method or procedure for parish staff, volunteers or parishioners to inform the pastor, school administrator/principal, directors of various programs of concerns, questions, issues regarding the protection of children and young people. This local plan shall include, but not be limited to, the requirement by Nebraska statute for reporting incidents or circumstances which give reasonable cause to believe that misconduct or abuse has or could occur.
   
   This procedure shall also provide an effective and timely communication pathway for information and concerns regarding the protection of children and young people or reports of misconduct to reach pastors and administrators.
   
   This procedure shall also provide directions for an effective and timely communication contact with the rest of the pastoral community or the general public.
   This procedure shall include, but not be limited to, the Nebraska statute requirement for reporting incidents or circumstances which give reasonable cause to believe that misconduct or abuse has or could occur.

 

Anonymous Communication and Rumors

 

1. Anonymous telephone calls, e-mail messages or hard copy memoranda and letters are often considered unreliable, even nuisance, forms of communication. However, when anonymous communication contains specific names, circumstances and timelines that raise questions, suspicions or concerns for the pastor, administrator, director or pastoral staff there is an accountability to seek clarification or verification for these reactions.
   
   
2. There should be timely contact and communication with the Chancellor in circumstances of this type.
   
3. Rumors, gossip and passing information that cannot otherwise be verified is part of the human condition. The best response to rumors and gossip is timely, clear and accurate information in keeping with a parish or school communication plan and procedure.

 

Building Safe Environments Within Pastoral Care

 

1. Safe environment awareness and practices are to be provided to all newly hired paid personnel and newly active volunteers within each parish faith community. Catholic school community, religious education or youth ministry program through in-service training.
   
   
2. All priests and deacons, paid personnel and all volunteers having regular contact with children and young people in the name of the Church shall have annual in-service update training in safe environment awareness and practices.
   
   
3. Pastors, administrators and staff personnel, in service of the Christian community, shall develop and maintain the means and methods for creating community wide awareness for the protection of children and young people in their midst.
   
   Parishes, schools, religious education and youth ministry programs in collaboration with and having resource support from the Office of the Chancellor, the Assistance Coordinator and Archdiocesan departments shall develop and distribute educational and informational materials or training opportunities as part of their pastoral care and ministry.