The Diocese of Nashville has once again been found in compliance with the requirements of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
Bishop J. Mark Spalding has received a letter from StoneBridge Business Partners of Rochester, New York, that said the results of an on-site audit has found the diocese to be in compliance with the Charter for the 2019-20 audit period.
An audit of the diocese’s compliance with the Charter is conducted each year. Every third year, the audit includes an on-site visit.
StoneBridge Business Partners is the firm chosen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to conduct the annual audits.
In June 2002, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and approved a revised version in 2018. The Charter outlines a comprehensive set of procedures for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy, including guidelines for:
- Creating a safe environment for children and young people.
- Healing and reconciliation of victims and survivors.
- Making a prompt and effective response to allegations.
- Cooperating with civil authorities.
- Disciplining offenders.
The Diocese of Nashville has been in full compliance with the requirements of the Charter since its adoption in 2002.
The diocese has a Safe Environment program in place that includes training for recognizing signs of abuse, contacts for reporting allegations to civil authorities and diocesan officials, a Diocesan Safe Environment Committee and Safe Environment coordinators in each parish.
The diocese encourages anyone who knows of or suspects that abuse has taken place to make the proper reports to civil authorities and to diocesan officials if the potential abuser is an employee or volunteer of the diocese or one of its institutions.
The 24-hour report line to report abuse to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services is 877-237-0004. The Diocese of Nashville’s 24-hour reporting number is 615-645-9763.
For more information on the program, visit dioceseofnashville.com/safe-environment.
