Task force formulates policies, procedures

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 24, 2003

Volunteers from the Diocese of Sioux City helped to formulate policies and initiatives as members of the Sexual Abuse Task Force for the diocese to meet provisions of The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People that the U.S. bishops adopted in Dallas.

According to Jim Wharton, director of communications for the diocese, when the bishop came back from Dallas a year ago, work began almost immediately. Last July, Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo announced the establishment of the task force and named Don Stevens to chair the group. The diocese sought volunteers to serve on the task force at that time and the group was up and running by fall.

Three of the main charges of the Dallas charter called for dioceses to establish or revise sexual abuse policies, create a professional code of ethics for all persons who work or volunteer in the church and implement a safe environment program.

"The task force worked diligently and completed their work in revising our already existing sexual abuse policy of minors from 1992 - revising it in accord with the Dallas charter," said Bishop DiNardo.

The sexual abuse policy applies specifically to clergy, while application of the ethics code is broader based.

"Anyone who ministers or volunteers on behalf of the church in any fashion will have to be a part of and sign off on the professional code of ethics. It focuses on how we respect and treat people," noted Wharton.

The bishop mentioned that creating this professional code took a great deal of time and effort. He thanked the task force members for completing this task and for doing a job that was well done.

Members of the task force include: Stevens, Janet Manning of Le Mars, Judy Bauerly of Le Mars, Harold Overman of Spirit Lake, Margie Moir of Le Mars, Mary Herbst of Le Mars, Linda Harrington of Sioux City, Michael Schaaf of Algona, Karen Schaaf of Algona and Jeff Hackett of Sioux City.

According to Hackett, chief operating officer of the Boys and Girls Home and Family Services in Sioux City, along with writing policy the task force looked at how children of the diocese were and were not protected. The group also established a procedure in response to such reported incidents.

Hackett acknowledged that he was skeptical when he first began working with the group. He initially questioned the intention of the process, wondering if the task force was merely established to meet the demands of the charter rather than out of sincerity to protect children.

"The belief of people in the pews was that in many dioceses the way it was addressed was through hush-up and through moving offending priests or faculty around. The child, the victim, was never given proper attention, consideration or concern. It was an issue around protecting the offender," he said.

Hackett was relieved when the bishop made it clear that that response would not be tolerated in this diocese.

"His intent was to establish a good process that protects children," he said. "I was very impressed with that. We kept that in mind as we moved through the process."

At the same time, Hackett said they didn't want to set up a system of "kangaroo courts" where anyone could be maligned and drummed out of the priesthood on any accusation. Protecting children, however, was always at the forefront of their work.

"I was very pleased with the process and with the dedication of those that came forward (to serve on the task force)," he said.

Bauerly, a retired registered nurse and parishioner at St. James in Le Mars, volunteered for the task force. She pointed out that the written policy and code establish firm guidelines and make parishioners aware of resources.

"It allows young people to know that the church is working on this problem, that the church takes it very seriously and there is help out there," she said.

Through VIRTUS, the diocese's new safe environment program, she said ongoing education will be provided to the schools and parishes of the diocese.

Harrington, a parishioner at Nativity in Sioux City and adjunct theology professor at Briar Cliff University, pointed out that in creating the code of ethics, members of the task force reviewed ones from other dioceses. They pulled elements from these other policies and rewrote portions applicable to the Sioux City Diocese.

The ethics code, she noted, encompasses far more than sexual issues.

"Things like developing one's own personal spirituality as the foundation for ministry are included in the code," said Harrington. "It also mentioned the need for ministers to support one another in recognizing signs, of stress both in yourself and in others and offering suggestions for how to deal with it. It's not just about sex, it's about ministry and how to be an effective minister for the church."

Such codes are necessary she noted, because every institution that holds itself up as a leader in moral issues needs to be able to show that it practices what it preaches. This helps build credibility.

"In our day and age when people are sue-happy, it is nice to have specific, written guidelines. It makes sure everyone is starting from the same position and understanding," she said.

As the task force developed the sexual abuse policy, Harrington said they used the Dallas charter as the model, but they modified it drastically to fit the diocese.

Through establishing the sexual abuse policy, the ethics code and safe environment program, Bauerly said it sends the message that the church really does care.

"As horrendous and horrific as it has been, I do believe that some good will come out of this," she said. "I think it is important for the young families especially to know that the church is doing something about it. We are just as concerned as they are for the welfare of their children."

Harrington said she liked the fact that the process has involved lay people.

"I would commend Bishop DiNardo for the way he allowed us to work and the way he supported us in the work. There was no coercion or even hinting that we should do it a particular way. He trusted us to come up with what was necessary, and I think we did a pretty good job," she said.

Various groups of the diocese - pastoral council, Presbyteral council, deacon council, corporate boards - all had a chance to review the policies and offer input as they were being written to ensure thorough policies.

"The ultimate goal is to protect the children and provide a safe environment for them," said Wharton.

Once a victims' assistance coordinator is hired for the diocese, brochures containing the sexual abuse policy will be printed and distributed to all parishes. For now, this policy and the professional code of ethics that appear in this issue of The Globe are also available on the diocesan Web site - www.scdiocese.org.

By this fall, the Diocese of Sioux City will be audited by an independent group who will look at the diocese's response to the sexual abuse crisis. The sexual abuse policy, code of ethics and safe environment program are among the things that the auditors will review.

"We will be more than ready to go with that audit. We have made very good progress toward what the bishops challenged us to do," said Wharton.

From this point, the task force will meet on a yearly basis to review if any changes need to be made in set policies.