Audit finds Diocese of Wilmington in compliance with charter to protect children
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington has once again been found to be in complete compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the comprehensive action plan adopted by U.S. bishops to deal with the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy and other church personnel.
The findings are a result of an on-site review of data collected for the 2017-18 charter audit period by StoneBridge Business Partners, an independent firm hired by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Diocese of Wilmington has been found to be in compliance in all audits including its first audit in 2004.
“We are happy to report another successful audit,” said the Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. “During this time when so many of us are once again saddened and angered by reports of sexual abuse of children by clergy, it is a reminder to us that we must always fight to avoid complacency and keep vigilant in our work to protect our precious children and young people.”
Currently, there are approximately 13,000 active individuals – including clergy, deacons, and parish and school staff and volunteers – who have undergone background checks and have been cleared for ministry with young people in the Diocese of Wilmington through its For the Sake of God’s Children safe environment program. For more information about this program, go to www.cdow.org/FSGC.
For more information regarding what the Catholic Church in the United States is doing to protect children and young people, including information about compliance audits, go to http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/audits.cfm.
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 56 parishes, 18 missions and 36 schools serving the State of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The diocese is in the midst of its year-long 150th anniversary celebration that will conclude Sunday, March 3, 2019.
