How to Report Suspected Abuse
Article 1: “Dioceses will reach out to victims/survivors and their families and demonstrate a sincere commitment to their spiritual and emotional well-being”.
Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal - USCCB 2005 (download document)
To report any suspected abuse, please contact:
Barbara Elordi MFT - Pastoral Outreach Coordinator
Phone: 415-614-5506
This is a secured phone line only answered by Barbara.
Email: elordib@sfarchdiocese.org
Survivor Help Line: 415-614-5503
This is a secured phone line monitored by survivors.
Policies and Procedures to respond to allegations of abuse
Article 2: “Dioceses are to have policies and procedures in place to respond promptly to any allegation where there is reason to believe that sexual abuse of a minor has occurred.”
Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal, USCCB 2005
Pamphlet: Sexual Misconduct by Clergy and Other Church Personnel
Links:
Policies and Procedures Regarding Child Abuse and Harassment (pdf); Addendum (pdf);
Volunteer Authorization Background check authorization form (pdf)
Employee Authorization Background check authorization form (pdf)
Volunteer Application Form - Spanish (pdf);
Volunteer Application Form and Background Check Authorization - Chinese (pdf)
The Importance of Obtaining Reference Checks/Background Checks (pdf)
Person or Persons to Coordinate Assistance Article 2: “Dioceses are to have a competent person or persons to coordinate assistance for the immediate care of persons who report having been sexually abused as minors by clergy or other church personnel.”
Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal -USCCB 2005
Review Board
Article 2: “Dioceses are also to have a review board that functions as a confidential consultative body to the bishop. The majority of its members are to be lay persons not in the employ of the diocese. “
Promise to Pledge, Protect to Heal - USCCB 2005
Pursuant to the Bishops’ Charter the Independent Review Board functions as a confidential consultative body to the Archbishop and advises the Archbishop in his assessment of allegations of sexual abuse of minors and his determinations of suitability for ministry. The Board also regularly reviews Archdiocesan policies and procedures for dealing with sexual abuse of minors. The Independent Review Board is an assessor of facts, not an investigator of facts or a trier of facts. The work of the Review Board falls in a phase, which the Code of Canon Law calls the preliminary investigation. After initial intake from the designated Pastoral Center official (and compliance with all child abuse reporting laws) a primary investigator (currently consisting of a pool of three retired police and district attorney office investigators) gathers the basic facts and presents his/her report to the Independent Review Board. The Review Board then makes an assessment as to whether there is sufficient evidence to sustain a belief that the sexual abuse of a minor took place. This phase is NOT a trial where plaintiff and defendant present and respond to each other’s arguments and a panel of judges reaches a verdict. The Review Board’s function is more analogous to a Grand Jury. It reviews the basic evidence and then hands over its conclusions to someone else for action, in this case the Archbishop. If the Archbishop agrees that the minimum standard of sufficient evidence exists, then he is required to refer the matter to Rome for further instructions. This may result in a formal penal process or canonical trial which, according to Canon Law, requires a higher standard of proof roughly equivalent to the civil concept of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In some cases the clergyman may, in lieu of a trial, volunteer to retire and adhere to the restrictions on ministry contained in the Bishops’ Charter.
Victims of Abuse God of endless love, Ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just: You gave your only Son over suffering and death. Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, Join to your own suffering The pain of all who have been hurt In body, mind, and spirit By those who betrayed the trust placed in them. Hear our cries as we agonize Over the harm done to our brothers and sisters. Breathe wisdom into our prayers, Soothe restless hearts wit hope, Steady shaken spirits with faith: Show us the way to justice and wholeness, Enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy. Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, Heal your people’s wounds And transform our brokenness. Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and grace, So that we may act with justice And find peace in you. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. AMEN. USCCB, c. 2004