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Maintaining Ethical Ministry with Minors and Adults

The Province Response

Since the feast of the Epiphany, 2002, the Church has been made aware of unspeakable harm to young people by the sexual misconduct of clergy and religious.

As you can see by comparing our former personnel manuals, we have been updating our response to such matters since the early 1990's. This was inspired by the late Archbishop Joseph Cardinal Bernardin of Chicago.

Our Response Since 2002

Previous to 2002 we did not really know how best to respond to instances of this kind of abuse, nor did we understand the depth of injury from such abuse. Since 2002 we have employed the services of Praesidium, Inc. to assist us in responding to the victims of sexual abuse with informed pastoral care, which may include psychotherapy and spiritual direction.

Praesidium, Inc. has helped us develop parameters for our ministry to minors to ensure, as far as possible, that young people are safely in our care. Furthermore, Praesidium, Inc. has given us direction for having in place guidelines for the supervision and care of any members of our Province accused of sexual abuse.

Praesidium, Inc. or a similar professional investigative agency may be employed to conduct investigations of allegations to ascertain their credibility. More detailed information will be found in our current manual of Policies and Procedures, Volume V, Maintaining Ethical Ministry with Minors and Adults.

Actions We Have Taken

At this time we are prepared to report that each member of the Province has been cleared by a criminal background check.

We have joined with other religious communities in the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (C.M.S.M.) to participate in a program designed by Praesidium, Inc. called Instruments of Hope and Healing. This program has led us through the many steps required to have our Province accredited by Praesidium, Inc.

In January, 2007, Praesidium, Inc. conducted a visitation of the Province. Three major areas were reviewed:

• Prevention of misconduct

• Response to allegations of misconduct

• Supervision of any member of the Province who may need it.

Praesidium, Inc. has provided us with a written report. In general, the Province was found to be in compliance with Praesidium standards. We are now in the process of correcting the single deficiency which was indicated in the Praesidium report. Once this is done, full accreditation is expected.

We are also in the process of setting up a review board that will be shared by some four or five other religious communities of men in the Chicago area.

Since September, 2004 every community of the Province has held at least one community meeting to review and discuss the above cited manual, Maintaining Ethical Ministry with Minors and Adults. At this writing nearly every friar has been certified by participation in the Virtus program or through conferences held by Praesidium, Inc. Every member of the Province will eventually participate in these programs, health permitting. Each of us understands what pedophilia is, how to recognize signs of this abuse, and the particular harm to minors resulting from the sexual misconduct of a priest or religious.

Compassion and Understanding

We are profoundly humbled and sorrowed over the harm any minors have suffered as victims of sexual abuse. We apologize to them with personal chagrin and sincerity. We also recognize and admire the courage of those victims who have come forward and called us to respond with compassion and understanding to this critical issue of our ministry to young people. We encourage any victims of sexual abuse to come forward and find us willing to address their needs with a pastoral response.

Some victims of sexual abuse are reluctant to speak to priests or religious. Sensitive to such reluctance, we have founded, along with other contributing religious communities, Pathways to Hope. This is an organization of lay people trained to respond and respect with appropriate confidentiality the dignity of victims of sexual abuse. To contact Pathways to Hope phone 312-223-1085 or (toll free) 866-784-5900, or e-mail the Executive Director, Jennifer Reed, or write to her at Pathways to Hope, 205 West Monroe St., Chicago, Illinois 60606-5013.

To report abuse or contact the Midwest Augustinians please call 708-283-6657, or 708-748-9500, Ext. 163, or e-mail our Vicar Provincial, Fr. Jerome Knies, O.S.A., or write to him at Augustinian Provincialate, 20300 Governors Hwy., Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1081.

To contact the Office of Victim Assistance of the Archdiocese of Chicago, phone 312-751-8267.

--Orignally approved by the Prior Provincial and the Province Council May 6, 2005
Subsequently updated

A Prayer for Healing

Join with the Augustinians of the Midwest in praying this prayer for the healing of all who suffer in body, mind or spirit because of sexual misconduct or abuse.

       » A Prayer for Healing - Victims of Abuse

Resources

       » Pathways to Hope (Opens new window)
             Outreach to survivors of abuse

       » Healing Alliance (The Linkup) (Opens new window)
             Enabling survivors to discover life beyond abuse

       » Praesidium, Inc. (Opens new window)
             Helping to protect and to create safe environments