| Written by Michael Swan, The Catholic Register,
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 The diocese of London, Ont., has completed years worth of work revising its sexual abuse policy and posted the results online.
London vicar general Fr. John Sharp said the diocese hopes every parishioner reads the new policy.
“We want people to be able to access it and know it. It would be our hope that it would get down to parishioners,” he said.
The policy will be reviewed every three years, and could be further updated based on parishioner input, said Sharp.
In an introduction to the policy, the London diocese stresses that its response to sexual abuse won’t be driven by lawyers or insurance companies with the sole aim of limiting damages.
“Although examinations for discovery are under way, we strive to mediate as many claims as possible without an examination for discovery. We have always taken a pastoral approach in these mediations,” said the Nov. 1 posting to the diocesan web site, www.rcec.london.on.ca.
The diocese has settled 12 separate lawsuits stemming from sexual abuse of minors.
The policy itself sets out concrete guidelines for priests and other pastoral workers who may deal with children. In addition to policies which provide for training and psychological screening of seminarians, a bishop’s delegate to oversee the diocese’s response to every complaint and funding of psychotherapy for victims, the policy specifies that pastors will not be alone with children, preparation for first Communion and Confirmation will take place in a group setting and that all confessionals will eventually have clear glass openings and be located in areas where they are likely to be seen by others.
“I think our priests have accepted it,” said Sharp.
The diocese has consulted extensively with clergy and lay people, running workshops on the issue of child sexual abuse.
While some may feel such policies introduce a level of formality and artificiality into pastoral relationships, most priests understand that such policies are necessary, said Fr. Ray Dlugos, executive director of the Southdown Institute.
Other dioceses in Canada have their sexual abuse policies online, including Vancouver, Quebec and Toronto. “I think it’s a great idea to post it on the Internet,” said Dlugos. “It’s a transparent act, so everybody knows what would happen and what are the steps that should be followed.”
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Michael Swan, The Catholic Register |
| About the author: |
| Michael Swan is Associate Editor of The Catholic Register. He is an award-winning writer and photographer and holds a Master of Arts degree from New York University.
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