Policies+for+Maintaining+Ethical+Ministry+with+Minors+-+2023+FINAL - Flipbook - Page 10
5. Procedures When Sexual Abuse Has Not Been Established
If the fact of sexual abuse by a Brother has not been established, the Brother Visitor will:
a. Issue an official letter to all parties involved (including the employer and Bishop as cited in C5d and C5e below)
to this effect within ten days and the case is closed
b. Reinstate the Brother to any responsibilities and duties from which he was temporarily removed
c. Make every effort to restore the good name of the accused Brother
d. Inform the employer of the place where the alleged abuse took place and where the Brother is currently employed that no allegation was established
e. Inform the bishop where the alleged abuse occurred and where the Brother currently resides that no allegation
was established.
6. Procedures When Sexual Abuse Has Been Established
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The Brother Visitor will communicate his decision in writing to the Brother and indicate further steps to be taken in
this matter.
The Brother Visitor will communicate with the diocesan bishops where the alleged abuse took place and where the
Brother currently resides. If the Brother is relocated to another diocese, the diocesan bishop will be informed.
The Brother will not be permitted to work in a parish, school, or any position which allows access to minors. The
Brother will not be permitted to work in any ecclesiastical ministry, meaning any ministry under the authority of a
diocesan bishop.
The Brother will not be permitted to use the title Brother in public, or wear the Brothers’ robe or shirt and collar.
In Order to assure transparency in responding to allegation, we commit to procedures recommended by Praesidium
as specified in Appendix B.
7. Administrative Recourse
At all times, a Brother against whom an allegation has been made has a right to administrative recourse, according to
the norms of canon law.
8. Process for Responding to Boundary Violations
Vigilance regarding the maintenance of proper boundaries must include a system of accountability based upon the standards of conduct. It is essential that, in our communities and the places where we work and minister, a transparent and
effective system of monitoring and reporting is in place.
a. The Institute shall immediately intervene in situations where there is a potential risk of harm to an identifiable
minor.
b. Each member is responsible for identifying warning signs and responding to those signs.
c. Members must report to the Visitor or local superior when another member violates the Institute’s policy on
boundaries with minors or when another member exhibits warning signs of inappropriate behavior with minors.
d. Member are encouraged, if they feel comfortable, to discuss concerns with the member engaging in inappropriate behavior(s), after having reported the behavior(s) to the Visitor or local superior.
e. The Visitor is responsible for coordinating appropriate assistance for members who have violated the boundaries as established in these policies.
i. The Visitor will document all reports and subsequent interventions , remedial actions taken, plans for continued observations, and conditions, if any, placed upon the member.
ii. Such documentation shall be included in files maintained by the Institute.. Access to these materials will
be available on a need-to-know basis or as required by civil law. Access to these materials will be restricted as required by canon law.
f. The Institute will present any situation in which a member has repeated boundary violations or when a minor is
known to be in danger, to the Review Board.
i. In these cases, an intervention plan must be developed which outlines how the boundary violation with
minors will be interrupted, and the Institute will verify that the intervention plan has been implemented.
9. The Brother Visitor Demonstrates Competency in Key Areas of Abuse Prevention and Response.
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