By Bishop Michael J. Sis

During the month of August 2020, the Diocese of San Angelo completed an audit of its Safe Environment programs by auditors from Stonebridge Business Partners of Rochester, New York, an independent firm commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), to ensure compliance with the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was necessary this year to conduct the audit by videoconferencing and phone calls rather than the traditional on-site audit. Despite the extra steps involved, the audit was completed on time with minimum inconvenience or complications.

The Charter, originally adopted by the USCCB in November 2002, and subsequently revised in 2011 and 2018, sets forth specific requirements which enable dioceses across the country to establish safe environment programs to protect children and youth from sexual abuse as well as other forms of abuse. This recent audit examined diocesan Safe Environment policies; diocesan Safe Environment programs for church personnel, parents, and children; as well as procedures for assisting victims of sexual abuse. As bishop, I am happy to report that Stonebridge has informed the diocese that, based on the analysis of the audit, the Diocese of San Angelo continues its status of being in full compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People for the 2019/2020 Charter audit period.

Since implementation of the Charter and the first compliance audit in 2003, the diocese has been found to be in full compliance with all articles of the Charter in each audit period for the past 18 years. I am pleased with the results of this audit and grateful for the hard work of hundreds of people throughout our diocese in 29 counties — pastors, deacons, women religious, and lay leaders — who provide a safe and sacred environment for all of our children and youth in the many programs and ministries we provide for 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 over 40,000 background checks and provided Safe Environment training for over 15,000 individuals who work with children and youth throughout the diocese. In addition, over 17,000 parents and other interested parties have attended seminars that the diocese has presented on preventing child sexual abuse. The diocese will continue to move forward, continuing efforts, not only to provide a safe environment for our children and youth in our church programs, but also to raise the awareness of child sexual abuse in society and steps that everyone can take to help protect our children. Everyone in the church and the broader society must remain ever vigilant in our efforts to prevent abuse.