SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
More than a hundred children and young adults were sexually abused by clergy with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento during a 70-year span, according to records released by the diocese Tuesday.
The diocese reported that there were 130 survivors, including children and young adults up to age 25. It includes 91 male and 39 female survivors. The list goes back to the 1950s.
“I apologize for the sins and failures of the past and I am resolutely determined that such acts of abuse should never again occur in our diocese,” said Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto. “I pledge to you that I and my brother priests are zealous in our efforts to ensure that our parishes and other Church ministries are safe environments for our children and young people.”
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The diocese outlines what it’s doing to protect children and young people from abuse on their website (this list has been edited for brevity):
Background Checks
Clergy, employees and volunteers are required to complete a Live Scan fingerprinting background check. Clergy and employees are cleared through the Department of Justice and FBI.
Safe Environment Training
Clergy, employees and volunteers are required to complete a child abuse recognition and reporting program every three years. The training addresses pornography, grooming techniques, social media interaction, and boundary violations.
Annual Audit
The Diocese of Sacramento is annually audited by an outside agency for safe environment compliance. The diocese participates in an on-site audit every three years. Compliance is based upon inquiry, observation and review of specifically requested documentation.
Victim Assistance Coordinator
The Diocese of Sacramento provides a pastoral care coordinator to assist persons who have suffered sexual abuse by members of the Catholic clergy and other Catholic Church workers. The Pastoral Care Coordinator arranges for their professional counseling.
Seminarian Formation
Seminarians receive full background checks and safe environment training. They are psychologically screened and evaluated throughout their training and education.
Safe Environment Contacts
Each parish and diocesan school has a safe environment contact who serves as a liaison between their site and the Safe Environment Department. The contact is responsible for managing compliance requirements for their parish or school.
The diocese also gives instructions on filing a formal complaint for anyone who has witnessed or has reason to believe there is, or has been, abuse involving clergy, employees or volunteers at any of the diocese’s Catholic schools, parish religious education programs or other church-related events. Allegations should be reported to law enforcement, child protective services or adult protective services before being reported to the Diocese of Sacramento.
An Independent Review Board (IRB) regularly reviews the diocese’s policies and procedures for dealing with sexual abuse of minors, according to the diocese’s website. An IRB has been in place to advise the Bishop of Sacramento in his assessment of allegations of sexual abuse of minors and in his determination of a cleric’s suitability for ministry since 2002.
The guidelines follow the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The charter was adopted in 2002 to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability and prevention of future acts of abuse.
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WHAT THE BISHOP SAYS: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento released an edited video Monday, April 29th of Bishop Jaime Soto apologizing for the sexual abuse of children and cover-up. "We failed you. We failed to protect you as children and we failed to tell you the truth as adults," Bishop Soto said.