SAN ANGELO -- During the month of September 2011, the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo completed an audit of its Safe Environment Programs with auditors from Stonebridge Business Partners of Rochester, New York , an independent firm commissioned by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB), to insure compliance with the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
The Charter, originally adopted by the USCCB in November 2002, sets forth specific requirements which enable dioceses across the country to establish safe environment programs to protect children and youth from sexual and other kinds of abuse. During this audit, Diocesan Safe Environment Policies; Safe Environment Programs for church personnel, parents, and children; as well as procedures for assisting victims of sexual abuse were examined.
“As bishop, I am happy to report that Stonebridge has informed the Diocese that, based on the analysis of the audit, the Diocese will continue it’s status of being in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” Bishop Pfeifer said late Friday. “Since implementation of the Charter, the Diocese has undergone seven previous annual audits in which we were found to be in full compliance with all articles of the Charter. I am pleased with the results of this audit and grateful for the hard work of so many people throughout our diocese; pastors, deacons, religious, and lay leaders; to provide a safe environment for all of our children and youth in the many programs through which we minister to them. Once again, this audit has given us a great opportunity to step back and see what we have accomplished and explore areas where we can make adjustments or improvements.”
Since 2002 the Diocese of San Angelo has conducted background checks and Safe Environment Training for over 9,000 individuals who work with children and youth throughout the Diocese. In addition, over 13,500 parents and other interested parties have attended seminars that the Diocese has presented on Preventing Child Sexual Abuse. We will continue to move forward, continuing our efforts, not only to provide a safe environment for our children and youth in our church programs, but to raise the awareness of child sexual abuse, and steps that everyone can take to help protect our children. In accord with the Charter, Bishop Pfeifer and the Bishops of USA invite all Churches and all agencies of society to join hands and efforts to overcome sexual abuse, especially of children, which sadly is rampant in all areas of society.
The Charter, originally adopted by the USCCB in November 2002, sets forth specific requirements which enable dioceses across the country to establish safe environment programs to protect children and youth from sexual and other kinds of abuse. During this audit, Diocesan Safe Environment Policies; Safe Environment Programs for church personnel, parents, and children; as well as procedures for assisting victims of sexual abuse were examined.
“As bishop, I am happy to report that Stonebridge has informed the Diocese that, based on the analysis of the audit, the Diocese will continue it’s status of being in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” Bishop Pfeifer said late Friday. “Since implementation of the Charter, the Diocese has undergone seven previous annual audits in which we were found to be in full compliance with all articles of the Charter. I am pleased with the results of this audit and grateful for the hard work of so many people throughout our diocese; pastors, deacons, religious, and lay leaders; to provide a safe environment for all of our children and youth in the many programs through which we minister to them. Once again, this audit has given us a great opportunity to step back and see what we have accomplished and explore areas where we can make adjustments or improvements.”
Since 2002 the Diocese of San Angelo has conducted background checks and Safe Environment Training for over 9,000 individuals who work with children and youth throughout the Diocese. In addition, over 13,500 parents and other interested parties have attended seminars that the Diocese has presented on Preventing Child Sexual Abuse. We will continue to move forward, continuing our efforts, not only to provide a safe environment for our children and youth in our church programs, but to raise the awareness of child sexual abuse, and steps that everyone can take to help protect our children. In accord with the Charter, Bishop Pfeifer and the Bishops of USA invite all Churches and all agencies of society to join hands and efforts to overcome sexual abuse, especially of children, which sadly is rampant in all areas of society.
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