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Archbishop Robert J. Carlson prayed at the end of a Mass of Reparation Sept. 7 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
Archbishop Robert J. Carlson prayed at the end of a Mass of Reparation Sept. 7 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
Photo Credit: Lisa Johnston

A continued commitment to protect young people

Archbishop Carlson responds to Pennsylvania grand jury report, calls on reparation for sins of clergy

Allegations of sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults by Catholic clergy as revealed by a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania has shined a light on what is being done in the Archdiocese of St. Louis to protect children from abuse.

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson issued this statement:

The recent allegations of sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults by Catholic clergy as revealed by a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania are extremely disturbing. Priests are called to be spiritual fathers to their people, and bishops are called to be shepherds of their flock, to protect the people in their care. We know that in many cases that has not happened. The trust of the faithful has been violated.

We must act on behalf of the victims of this abuse in order to bring to them the love, healing, and light of Christ.

Our own Archdiocese of St. Louis has not escaped the scourge of clergy sexual abuse over the past few decades. Since 2002, the archdiocese has renewed its efforts and made every attempt to protect those who cannot protect themselves and to ensure that the light of Christ is present everywhere—especially where children or vulnerable people are present.

I pledge my continued commitment to the protection of children and young people. Our archdiocesan policy regarding the protection of children is stringent, thorough, and includes multiple points of accountability. All clergy, seminarians, employees, and volunteers whose service in the Church brings them into contact with children must have a regular background check. Since 2002, over 100,000 adults who are employed by or volunteer in our parishes and institutions have participated in the professionally developed program, “Protecting God’s Children.” The program equips those who serve the Church to foster a safe environment for our children and vulnerable adults.

In the fall of 2017, a former member of the FBI conducted a complete review of our child protection and Review Board policies and procedures. Our program was judged to be thorough and comprehensive.

Established in 2002, the Archdiocesan Review Board currently consists of a majority of lay members not employed by the archdiocese who review every allegation of clergy sexual abuse and provide me with advice concerning allegations. I have always followed the advice of this board. The board includes lay members with backgrounds in law enforcement, medical ethics, psychology, psychiatry, and a medical doctor whose expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of juvenile sexual abuse.

Our seminary’s admission process involves a thorough psychological evaluation, which includes detailed knowledge of the man’s mental and psychological health. The seminary has two full-time lay psychologists to assist in human development, and each man meets regularly with an in-house spiritual director and formation advisor. In addition to all these points the faculty, administration, formation advisors, and psychologists gather three times a year to discuss the progress of each seminarian in every dimension of his formation, so that any potential problems can be identified and addressed.

Today no clergy against whom a substantiated claim of abuse of a minor has been made have permission to conduct priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. I support and encourage anyone with an allegation to contact law enforcement.

The Church relies on the help of God’s grace to remain firm in Her resolve and effective in Her action to protect children and young people. I will be inviting the priests of the Archdiocese of St. Louis to join me in offering Masses for all victims of sexual abuse. I pray that we may always express the pure love of Christ particularly for children and the most vulnerable in our midst.

Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson

Archbishop of St. Louis

Taking action

On Aug. 23, the archbishop invited Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley to review archdiocesan files on abuse allegations “for the purpose of making an independent determination of our handling of allegations of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.” The attorney general said that full transparency “benefits not only the public but also the Church and most importantly it will help us expose and address potential wrongdoing and protect the vulnerable from abuse.” To read more about this invitation, visit https://bit.ly/2MiN9Fs

On Sept. 7, the archbishop joined with nearly 800 people at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis for a Mass of Reparation, in which he acknowledged the sorrow and shame of sexual abuse of children and adults by clergy and called on God for forgiveness. Making reparation is a theological concept in which people offer to God an act of compensation or making amends one’s own sins or the sins of others against Christ. The act serves as a way to repair His heart, which has been wounded by sin. To read more about the Mass of reparation, visit https://bit.ly/2o3JdhR

Resources:

To report suspected abuse by a member of the clergy or by lay employees or volunteers in the archdiocese, contact Sandra Price with the Office of Child and Youth Protection at (314) 792-7704 or [email protected]; the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division of Child Abuse and neglect at (800) 392-3738; or local law enforcement.

For information about the archdiocese’s Child and Youth Protection program, see archstl.org/child-and-youth-protection

For up-to-date coverage of the this issue, read the St. Louis Review in print or online at stlouisreview.com.

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