1989: Bishop John Donoghue issues among the Diocese of Charlotte’s earliest written policies dealing with how to handle allegations of sexual misconduct by Church personnel. “The Diocese is dedicated to compliance and cooperation with applicable laws (civil and ecclesiastical) and programs dealing with allegations of inappropriate behavior, especially child abuse, in each jurisdiction of the Diocese,” he writes. “No person knowing of such an allegation should knowingly fail to report such information to the appropriate authorities in the Diocese, the Bishop or his designee, the Chancellor. No preferential treatment is to be expected, or accepted, in such matters.”
He also expressly notes allegations of inappropriate behavior or child abuse by priests “should be considered serious and must be reported to the Bishop or his designee, the Chancellor,” and he mandates “local reporting regulations must be followed in all details.”
However, the policy does not mandate reporting to the parish or to the public. In fact, it specifically calls for confidentiality except for “those individuals with a sufficient need to know.”
1995: The diocese issues a more extensive written policy: “Concerning Ministry-Related Sexual Misconduct by Church Personnel.” It establishes criteria for reporting and investigating claims of sexual abuse. The policy is updated in 1999 and again in 2003.
It is also among the first dioceses in the U.S. to create a lay-led review board to serve as a consultative body to the bishop in reviewing reports of sexual abuse.
2002: The U.S. bishops adopt a “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” a set of procedures for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Church personnel. The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability and prevention of future acts of abuse. It is revised in 2005, 2011 and 2018.
2003: The diocese’s first group of “Protecting God’s Children” facilitators is trained and the first parish session is held in September. Since then more than 200 more facilitators have been trained for the diocese.
The diocese revises its sexual misconduct policy to align with the Charter, and the diocese is audited for the first time according to the Charter’s provisions. The diocese is found in compliance with the Charter.
The diocese also adopts a formalized background check policy and begins processing checks for all employees and volunteers who work with children. In 2005 the policy is expanded to include all employees and adult volunteers – whether or not they work directly with children.
2004: Charlotte is among 195 dioceses that take part in a national study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, commissioned by the U.S. bishops to investigate the scope of the clergy sex abuse problem from 1950 to 2002.
In his first Ash Wednesday homily after being installed as the fourth bishop of Charlotte, Bishop Peter Jugis expresses “profound sorrow” to all victims of the crime of sexual abuse.”
“Some clergy did not live up to their calling to be an image of Christ the Good Shepherd,” he said. “And this has had a profound effect on our entire Church community.” He asks people to pray “for God’s grace to bring healing to our brothers and sisters who are victims of this misconduct and abuse that has occurred in our Church and for God’s grace to bring healing to the Church.”
2005: In its annual report for fiscal year 2005, the diocese reports holding nearly 300 “Protecting God’s Children” training programs mandated according to the Charter. From 2003 to 2005, approximately 10,000 employees and volunteers go through the training.
2006: The diocese launches “Teaching Safety – Empowering God’s Children,” a Charter-approved series of age-appropriate lesson plans that give children the tools they need to resist someone who intends to do them harm.
2008: The diocese launches “Circle of Grace,” developed by the Archdiocese of Omaha, with lesson plans for K-12 and more for parish use.
2017: In the latest data available about its “Safe Environment” measures, the diocese reports conducting over 4,000 criminal background checks and holding training programs for 3,500 diocesan staff and volunteers.
Step one: Allegation
Made via phone, email, mail, etc., to the Diocese of Charlotte Chancery
At the time of reporting an incident of alleged sexual misconduct to the Chancery, the person making the report will be asked to complete the diocesan form “Report of Suspected Ministry Related Sexual Misconduct by Church Personnel” (available on the diocesan website at www.charlottediocese.org)
Step two: Notification
The Chancery notifies:
1. Civil Authorities (DSS and/or law enforcement). They conduct their own investigation.
2. Diocesan Review Board
3. (In the case of clergy from another diocese or religious order) Their superior
4. Victim Assistance Coordinator, who is available to provide care and connect them with counseling if requested
5. Accused is notified of the allegation and immediate measures are considered until credibility of the allegation can be determined.
If measures are taken, the following are also notified:
6. Parish
7. Catholic News Herald
Step three: Investigation
1. The Review Board launches an internal investigation, separate from any civil investigation. An expert investigator, when required, is assigned to gather information and report their findings to the Review Board and to the Bishop.
2. The Review Board examines the case’s credibility – specifically the question: is there the semblance of truth to the allegation? The Review Board makes a recommendation to the Bishop.
Step four: Determination
Following the Review Board’s review and assessment, the Bishop determines the credibility of the allegation and makes a decision in the case.
Step five: Resolution/ Next steps
Allegation found credible:
For an employee, the accused is fired or permanently removed from ministry; the accused is encouraged to seek counseling, and other appropriate measures may be taken. For clergy, after the completion of this preliminary investigation a formal investigation is launched and the matter is sent to the Holy See for adjudication.
Allegation found not credible:
The case is dismissed, the person who made the allegation is notified, and the employee or clergy returns to ministry at the Bishop’s discretion. Steps are taken publicly to restore their reputation.
How to report an allegation of abuse
Anyone having actual knowledge of or reasonable cause to suspect an incident of ministry-related sexual abuse is to immediately report the incident: Contact your local law enforcement and/or your local DSS, and/or file a written report with the Diocese of Charlotte Chancery. The Chancery will then report the incident to the proper civil authorities.
ONLINE: www.charlottediocese.org/human-resources/safe-environment
PHONE: Chancery at 704-370-6299 or the victim assistance hotline at 704-370-3363
EMAIL: David Harold, LCSW, the diocese’s victim assistance coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MAIL: Chancellor, Diocese of Charlotte, P.O. Box 36776, Charlotte, N.C. 28236
People involved in the diocese’s investigation process
VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR
A professional counselor made available to the alleged victim and their family to provide immediate care and connect them with counseling and medical care if desired
EXPERT INVESTIGATOR
Gathers evidence about the alleged abuse and reports their findings to the Review Board and to the bishop
REVIEW BOARD
A volunteer consultative body who confidentially advises the bishop. Currently at eight members, it is mostly comprised of laypeople (but they cannot be diocesan employees). It includes a priest and a lawyer (but not the diocesan attorney), and an expert on the issue of child sexual abuse, typically a psychological counselor. Members serve five-year terms, which can be renewed by the bishop. Their role is to review allegations of abuse and to make recommendations to the bishop.
BISHOP
Makes the final determination on the accused clergy’s ability to minister in the diocese in accordance with civil law and Church law
What is the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People?
The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is a comprehensive set of procedures established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2002 for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The Diocese of Charlotte falls under the Charter, and is audited every year for its compliance (SEE PAGE 20). The Charter includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability and prevention of further acts of abuse.
The Charter covers allegations of abuse by clergy or religious against any minor. In both civil and Church law a minor is anyone under the age of 18.
The Charter pertains to acts of abuse in the past, present and future. Any act of sexual abuse of a mi-nor that occurred prior to the Charter being implemented but is brought forward now, will be consid-ered relevant and subject to the Charter.
Every U.S. Catholic diocese is required…
Since 2002, the Catholic Church in the United States has followed a set of rules initiated by the bishops of the country and approved by the Vatican for dealing with sexual abuse of minors by priests or deacons: The Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons. These norms include:
- To have a written policy for dealing with sexual abuse of minors by priests, deacons and other Church personnel
- To appoint a victim assistance coordinator, who is available for the immediate pastoral care of persons who report having been sexually abused as a minor by a priest or deacon
- To report allegations concerning child sexual abuse to civil authorities and to cooperate with the civil investigations
- To establish a review board of at least five persons, mostly members of the laity, who counsel the bishop on allegations and review local policies dealing with sexual abuse of minor
- To investigate promptly and objectively any allegation of sexual abuse of minors by a priest or deacon
- To remove offending priests or deacons permanently from Church ministry
- To prohibit the transfer of offending priests or deacons for ministerial assignment in another diocese or eparchy
- To receive necessary background information before permitting a priest or deacon to exercise ministry in a diocese or eparchy
- To protect the rights of accusers and of the accused
— U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
More online
At www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/charter.cfm: Get more information and read the full text of the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons