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.
