Survey of the Written Child Protection Policies of the 32 U.S. Archdioceses

ABSTRACT

Amid considerable public scrutiny, Roman Catholic institutions in the United States have been called upon to address underlying organizational conditions that may facilitate child sex abuse and establish effective policies for early intervention and prevention. The development of child protection policies has largely been left to the discretion of local dioceses with little in the way of central oversight. This study examined the 32 U.S. archdioceses’ written policies on child protection and maintaining a safe environment. We found 14 distinct policies spread across the archdioceses which fit into four general categories or domains: (1) Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse; (2) Detection and Reporting of Abuse; (3) Response to Victims; and (4) Investigational Process and Response to Allegations of Abuse. Using a tool developed from a list of unique components selected from the better policies of all 32 archdioceses, we compared policies across archdioceses. On a group level, we found current policies to be inadequate. The average score for all 32 archdioceses was 100.9 out of 250 possible points or 40%. The range was 61 to 137 (SD 20.4). The variation and inconsistencies across multiple archdioceses within the U.S. reveal the need for the Catholic Church to establish evidence-based standards on appropriately and effectively addressing child sexual abuse within its dioceses. These standards should be based on empirically supported best practices and emerging consensus of experts on better practices for youth-serving organizations in relation to child abuse. This article points to parameters for consideration in developing such standards.

KEYWORDS:

• child sexual abuse
• Policy
• Prevention
• Clergy abuse
• youth serving organizations
• Catholic Church
• religious institutions

Acknowledgment

It was partially funded by Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.

Notes

¹ Archdioceses include: Anchorage, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Dubuque, Galveston-Houston, Hartford, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Louisville, Miami, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Philadelphia, Portland, St. Louis, St. Paul & Minneapolis, San Antonio, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, Washington, D.C.

² The Roman Catholic Church has an internal, religio-legal system, incorporating a judicial framework and a complex set of laws, or canons, regulating the internal church organization and its members. It originated in early Christian communities in the third century and enforcement of the canons was placed in the hands of bishops. (Warner, 2018)

³ Recently, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (2020) at the Vatican released guidance on investigating and responding to sexual abuse. It did so, “In response to numerous questions about the procedures to be followed … ” (p. 1).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephanie Dallam

Dr Stephanie Dallam, PhD, is a visiting scholar at CHILD USA and former lead researcher for the Leadership Council on Child Abuse and Interpersonal Violence. She has written numerous articles and chapters on issues related to child sexual abuse. 

Marci Hamilton

Dr Marci A. Hamilton, JD, is the Founder and CEO of CHILD USA, a nonprofit academic think tank dedicated to interdisciplinary, evidence-based research to improve laws and public policy to end child abuse and neglect. She is also the Fels Institute of Government Professor of Practice and a Resident Senior Fellow in the Program for Research on Religion at the University of Pennsylvania. She previously held the Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. She is considered a leading expert on clergy sex abuse and child sex abuse statutes of limitation. She has authored numerous articles, chapters and several books including God vs. the Gavel and Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children.

Sabine Glocker

Dr Sabine A. Glocker, ESQ., is licensed attorney and judicial law clerk in the Philadelphia Family Court and a MS in forensic psychology. She is a former Legal Fellow with CHILD USA and has significant experience in research and writing, including amicus briefs to the Supreme Courts of the United States and Poland.