Were You Abused?
If you were sexually abused as a child by a priest, deacon or any other member of the Catholic Church, you are not alone. We are here to help you. Please fill out our confidential online contact form or call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 and a Maryland Sexual Abuse Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your possible case. Help is available nationwide. There is no cost to investigate and there are no legal fees unless you receive financial compensation. Making the call is sometimes the hardest step, but it is often a necessary step on the road to healing. Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer Maryland
Reasons to call
Please call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or fill out our confidential contact form and a lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your case. Maryland Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer
CATHOLIC CHURCH PREVENTION EFFORTS REGARDING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
The Catholic Church has taken several steps in recent years in an attempt to prevent the sexual abuse of children. Most of the actions taken were detailed in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People which was approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002. To ensure implementation of the Charter, the USCCB created a committee called the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Board commissioned John Jay College to conduct a survey to better understand the scope of the sexual abuse problem, and the results of that survey are known as the John Jay Report.
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Safe Environment training has been instituted in 194 dioceses in the United States, and adults in those dioceses received training in how to recognize the behavior of abusers and what actions to take when such behavior is recognized. All dioceses also have codes of conduct that clearly state what kinds of behavior are acceptable and what aren’t. Dioceses in the United States have trained 5.8 children on how to recognize and report sexual abuse and inappropriate behavior.
The church now requires background checks on all church personnel who interact with children. This includes priests, employees, and volunteers. Victim Assistance Coordinators have been placed in all dioceses to ensure victims will be heard when allegations of abuse are reported. Bishop will also meet with victims, and dioceses have healing masses and retreats for victims of abuse.
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Since 2002, the church has a “Zero Tolerance” policy when it comes to sexual abuse. They claim that after a priest confesses or is established to have committed an act of sexual abuse that the priest will be permanently removed from the ministry. Dioceses are now required to report allegations to the proper authorities in addition to conducting their own internal investigation. Dioceses now require psychological screening in addition to the background check for any men who want to enter the seminary.
The Vatican has established the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in 2014 to propose ways to protect children from abusive priests and employees in the church. The commission recommended the creation of a tribunal to judge the bishops who had participated in sexual abuse cover ups and who had failed to protect the children in their dioceses. This was approved by Pope Francis, but it has yet to be implemented.
Maryland Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer
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