Editor's note: The following is excerpted from the Report to the People of God: Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 1930-2003. The complete report, released by the Archdiocese Feb. 17, is available on the Archdiocesan website: www.la-archdiocese.org.

Zero tolerance
In February 2002, Cardinal Mahony announced to all the people of the Archdiocese a firm policy of zero tolerance:

"[T]he Archdiocese of Los Angeles will not knowingly assign or retain a priest, deacon, religious or lay person to serve in its parishes, schools, pastoral ministries or any other assignment when such an individual is determined to have previously engaged in the sexual abuse of a minor. If the Archdiocese determines that a priest or deacon has engaged in such conduct, that person will be removed from all clerical offices and all pastoral or educational ministry and will not be reassigned. Since he will never return to active ministry, he will be encouraged to seek a dispensation from the obligations of the priesthood or the diaconate and to return to the lay state.

"This policy was mirrored in the summer of 2002 by a decision of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to adopt zero tolerance, namely that, 'When sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or a deacon is admitted or is established after an appropriate process…the offending priest or deacon will be permanently removed from ministry….'"

Immediate reporting and investigation
Now, if a report of sexual abuse of a minor is made to the Archdiocese, three steps are taken immediately: (1) the appropriate civil authorities are notified so that an investigation can begin; (2) counseling assistance and referrals, at Archdiocesan expense, are offered to the person making the complaint and to that person's family; and (3) if upon initial internal investigation the report is considered credible, the accused cleric is removed from all active ministry as the investigation continues. If the allegation is found to be true, the cleric will never be allowed to return to any active ministry or pastoral office. The most immediate concern is to help the individual who has been directly harmed by the misconduct or abuse.

Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board
In 2002, before the June meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas, the Archdiocese revamped the Sexual Abuse Advisory Board and renamed it the Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board to reflect a new role. It now consists of 13 members. The Board is chaired by the Hon. Richard Byrne, former Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court (Ret.). The membership of the Board includes parents of abused children, a victim, psychologists, attorneys and social service professionals.

The Board is now an entity reporting directly to the Archbishop with formal written recommendations. All cases of sexual misconduct by clergy are presented to the Board. The Board's meetings and records, including its recommendations, are strictly confidential.

When an allegation is received, the accuser is directed to the Archdiocese's Coordinator for Victim Assistance, civil authorities are notified, and the accused is informed of the allegation. The case is brought before the Board, which receives a report of each allegation lodged against a priest or deacon. The Board reviews all the relevant information and may request additional information as necessary.

Among other things, the Board makes written recommendations to the Archbishop concerning:

---Compliance with California's child sexual abuse reporting laws;

---Whether the needs of the victim or victims are being addressed and pastoral outreach has been extended to every victim and his or her family;

---The type of notice to be given to the parish staff and community.

As of Feb. 1, 2004, the Board has had 28 meetings. It has reviewed 37 cases of reported abuse of minors, the vast majority of which happened before 1987. The Board's recommendations have been instrumental in the decision making of the Cardinal and other Archdiocesan officials.

Policies on sexual abuse remain under regular review, with an eye to considering "best practices" around the country that could enhance practices in the Archdiocese. Recently, for example, three former FBI special agents were hired to assist the Archdiocese with investigations.

Confidential settlements
In the past, as was customary in much litigation, the Archdiocese entered into confidentiality provisions as part of settlements resolving claims of clergy sexual abuse. It is the present policy, however, neither to enter into confidentiality agreements nor to attempt to enforce prior agreements.

Healing and victim assistance ministry
Counseling and spiritual and psychological assistance have been offered by the Archdiocese to victims of sexual abuse for many years and many of those who were harmed have taken advantage of this offer. In 2002, along with the zero tolerance policy and the Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board, the Archdiocese established the Office of Assistance Ministry to facilitate pastoral and counseling response to victims of sexual abuse. The purpose of this Office is to provide immediate, compassionate pastoral and spiritual assistance and resources for victims harmed by sexually-abusive behavior of a priest, deacon or any employee of the Archdiocese.

Since 2002, the Office of Assistance Ministry has arranged counseling for more than 100 victims or their family members alleged to have been abused by Archdiocesan personnel. Counseling is provided by mental health professionals experienced in childhood sexual abuse. The psychotherapists are independent practitioners on a panel of practitioners recommended to victims. Victims, however, can select another qualified psychotherapist.

Cardinal Mahony has designated a prayer chapel in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for those affected by sexual abuse, and has asked pastors throughout the Archdiocese to include special prayers during Mass for the healing of all victims and their families.

Safeguard the Children program
In 2002, the Archdiocese initiated an effort to broaden understanding of all forms of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children by any adult, including clergy. The Safeguard the Children program is intended to raise the consciousness of the community as a whole to issues of child abuse and neglect, and to sensitize teachers, parents, children, volunteers and all those in ministry to conduct that may be evidence of possible abusive behavior by any adult.

Each parish has been asked to establish a Safeguard the Children committee and to seek as committee members parishioners with relevant expertise, such as nurses, police officers, counseling professionals, doctors and parents.

The Archdiocesan Catholic Center, in conjunction with the Department of Catholic Schools and the Office of Family Life, has provided materials that have been given to every pastor, principal and director of religious education in the Archdiocese. Additional copies are made available to parishes requesting copies for parish committee members. The materials include a child abuse prevention handbook and intervention guide from the California Attorney General's Office and a list of additional resources, websites and videos offered by the Office of Religious Education.

The goals of each parish committee are to inform all parish groups of policies on reporting and preventing child abuse and neglect, to conduct workshops attuned to local needs, to arrange speakers, and, in general, to encourage parish groups to learn about all aspects of child abuse and prevention.

Information: Reports and assistance
More information on the reports of clergy sexual abuse against minors is available from the following sources:

---"Report to the People of God: Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 1930-2003," available on the Archdiocesan website: www.la-archdiocese.org.

---"The Nature and Scope of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States," the Research Study Conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, available at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' website: www.usccb.org.

---"A Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States," prepared by the Natural Review Board for the Protection of Children & Young People: www.usccb.org.

---"Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" (issued in January): www.usccb.org.

For information on assistance:
---Assistance Ministry Hotline of the Los Angeles Archdiocese: 1-800-355-2545.

---"Respecting the Boundaries! Keeping Ministerial Relationships Healthy and Holy," brochure from the L.A. Archdiocese, available at parishes or online: www.la-archdiocese.org/english/dept/Assist/brochure.htm.

---"Safe Environment Programs," guidelines issued by the USCCB Office of Child and Youth Protection: (202) 541-5413 or www.usccb.org/comm/envguide.htm.

---"Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, revised edition," issued by the USCCB: www.usccb.org/bishops/charter.htm.

---"Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons," issued by the USCCB: www.usccb.org/bishops/norms.htm.