WASHINGTON—Cardinal
Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is hosting a series of meetings this week responding to the broader
issue of safe environments within the Church. An update will be offered upon
their conclusion.

In
response to today’s Pennsylvania grand jury report, Cardinal DiNardo joins Bishop
Timothy L. Doherty of Lafayette
in Indiana,
in issuing the following joint statement. Bishop Doherty is Chairman for the USCCB’s
Committee for the
Protection of Children and Young People.

The full statement follows:

“The report of the Pennsylvania grand jury again illustrates the pain
of those who have been victims of the crime of sexual abuse by individual
members of our clergy, and by those who shielded abusers and so facilitated an
evil that continued for years or even decades. We are grateful for the courage of
the people who aided the investigation by sharing their personal stories of
abuse. As a body of bishops, we are shamed by and sorry for the sins and
omissions by Catholic priests and Catholic bishops.

We are profoundly saddened each time we hear about the harm caused as
a result of abuse, at the hands of a clergyman of any rank. The USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People and the office of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection will continue to offer avenues to healing for those who have been
abused. We are committed to work in determined ways so that such abuse cannot
happen.

The
Pennsylvania grand jury report covers a span of more than 70 years. In 2002 the
U.S. Catholic bishops adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which commits us to respond
promptly and compassionately to victims, report the abuse of minors, remove
offenders and take ongoing action to prevent abuse. This Charter was revised and updated in 2011 and again in 2018. We
pledge to maintain transparency and to provide for the permanent removal of
offenders from ministry and to maintain safe environments for everyone.
All policies and procedures regarding training and background check
requirements are made publicly available by dioceses and eparchies.

We pray
that all survivors of sexual abuse find healing, comfort and strength in God’s
loving presence as the Church pledges to continue to restore trust through
accompaniment, communion, accountability and justice.”

—

Keywords:
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Cardinal Daniel N.
DiNardo, Bishop Timothy L. Doherty, Committee for the Protection of Children and
Young People, Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, Pennsylvania, Grand
Jury Report, sexual abuse, clergyman, U.S. bishops, Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People, prevention, accompaniment, accountability,
justice.

###

Media Contact:

Judy Keane

202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops