SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS: A PUBLIC RESPONSE BY HOLY NAME PROVINCE
The Franciscan friars of Holy Name Province know of the profound suffering and harm which incidents of sexual abuse of minors by some priests and members of religious orders have caused innocent people and the Church community at large. As brothers to all and as ministers within the Church, we must work to ensure the safety of all the people we serve, especially the safety of children. In regards to the sexual abuse of minors, we know and affirm that:
Sexual abuse of a minor (under 18 years of age) by a friar is contrary to our vowed life and our profession to live the Gospel. Holy Name Province will not tolerate or excuse the sexual abuse of a minor by a friar of our Province.
Sexual abuse of a minor by a friar is a crime. Holy Name Province will cooperate fully with civil authorities and will report to these authorities all allegations of sexual abuse of a minor that are brought against a friar of our Province.
Sexual abuse of a minor by a friar is a misuse of power and a violation of trust, and excludes a friar from functioning as a public minister. Holy Name Province will cooperate fully with all local dioceses and will make full disclosure of allegations of sexual abuse of minors by a friar of the Province to the local dioceses in which friars of the Province work. When it is established that a friar is guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, Holy Name Province will not request permission from a local bishop for this friar to function as a priest or as a public minister.
Consistent with our Franciscan heritage, Holy Name Province is committed to listen respectfully to all allegations made by a person who believes that he or she has been harmed by the sexual abuse of a friar of the Province. When an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been found to have a reasonable foundation, Holy Name Province will provide pastoral care to the people who may have been injured, including: the person who makes an allegation of sexual abuse by a friar; the local friar community; if appropriate, the people we serve in a particular ministerial setting; and the friar who has been accused of sexual abuse with full respect to his civil and canonical rights to due process.
Holy Name Province has established a Compliance Board, made up of friars and lay people, in order to respond to allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a friar of the Province. Our Province has developed and published a “Policy for Responding to Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors Brought Against a Friar of Holy Name Province.” The text of this policy statement is available upon request at the Provincial Office and is also published on the Holy Name Province web site at: http://www.hnp.org.
In order to report an incident of sexual abuse of a minor by a friar of Holy Name Province, please contact:
Holy Name Province Liaison for the Protection of Minors 129 West. 31st Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10001-3403 212-736-8500