By Kristin Leandro
Special to the Herald
Following a three-day site audit last month by a Mainland auditing firm, the Diocese of Honolulu has been found in full compliance with the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”
In June 2002, four months after the crisis of child sexual abuse by clerics was dramatically brought to light in media reports, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops developed the Charter to guide U.S. dioceses in their response to the scandal. The Charter promotes healing and reconciliation with victims of sexual abuse by clergy, religious, employees and volunteers; outlines an effective response to allegations of sexual abuse; and calls for more effective screening and education for those entering into service with the church.
The Diocese of Honolulu, which already had policies in place, updated them in light of the Charter.
In our continued commitment to the Charter, the diocese participates in the U.S. bishops’ annual audit process, a yearly written assessment of our implementation efforts. And every three years we participate in a three-day site visit conducted by Stonebridge Business Partners, Inc., an independent auditing firm hired by the bishops.
Stonebridge visited our diocese Oct. 12-14. During the visit, Stonebridge reviewers examined our safe environment policies, procedures and documents that demonstrate the diocese’s compliance with Charter requirements. They interviewed Bishop Larry Silva, vicar general Father Gary Secor, vicar of clergy Father Manuel Hewe, two members of the Diocesan Review Board, the group that examines allegations of sexual abuse, and others.
The Stonebridge reviewers also visited three Oahu churches: St. Jude Parish in Kapolei, St. John the Baptist Parish and School in Kalihi, and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in the Ala Moana area. They interviewed pastors and administrators, the school principal, and the parish and school safe environment liaisons.
The Stonebridge reviewers, during their exit interview, presented the diocese with only one written recommendation. They noted that the victim assistance coordinator, the social worker assigned to take the initial calls from abuse victims, had changed a month or so before the audit. Diocesan materials referring to the new coordinator should be updated, they said.
That update has been made. The diocese’s current Victim Assistance Coordinator is Elizabeth Lyons, MFT. She can be reached at 527-4604 or elizabeth.lyons@catholiccharitieshawaii.org.
Bishop Silva received confirmation of the diocese passing the audit in a letter from Stonebridge Business Partners dated Oct. 23. It said, “Based on the results of our recently performed on-site audit of the Diocese of Honolulu, the Diocese has been found compliant with all audited Articles within the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People for the 2014/2015 audit period.”
The successful outcome of our 2015 audit site visit would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our clergy, religious, employees and volunteers in our parishes, schools and diocesan organizations. Thank you all for your tireless efforts to protect our youth and restore the faithful’s trust in the church.
Kristin Leandro is the diocesan Safe Environment director.
