Have independent audits of the clergy personnel files been completed?

The clergy personnel files were previously independently reviewed in 2003 and 2011. Based on those audits, it is certain that no cleric with a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is serving in ministry in our diocese. In September 2018, Bishop Burbidge commissioned a new, thorough review of the files of all priests and deacons who have ever served in our diocese, including those who are deceased or no longer serving here, to ensure that any past credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are known. This review was conducted independently by two former FBI investigators who were given access to all personnel files related to clergy.

At the completion of the work of the independent investigators, a list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in the Diocese was published on February 13, 2019. (No deacons were found credibly accused by the Diocesan Review Board.)

The list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor can be found here: ArlingtonDiocese.org/ClergySexualAbuse.

 

How did the Diocese determine an allegation to be “credible” for the list they published on February 13, 2019?

The names and cases published on February 13, 2019 were considered by the Diocesan Review Board with all available documentation following a thorough review by third-party, former FBI personnel. The Diocesan Review Board then gave its recommendation that those names be published. Bishop Burbidge accepted their recommendation.

Priests on that list were accused of sexual abuse of a child, and meet at least one of the following criteria:

– The accused admitted guilt;
– There has been a determination of guilt in a criminal court, civil court or by an ecclesiastical process;
– The Arlington or Richmond Diocesan Review Board found the allegation to be credible. 

What is meant by a finding of “credible” by the Review Board?

The Diocese’s child protection policy defines a “credible accusation” as “an allegation that, based upon the facts of the case, meets one or more of the following thresholds: (a) believable and plausible; (b) reasonable and probable; (c) corroborated with other evidence or another source; and/or (d) acknowledged/admitted to by the accused.” In effect, this requires a determination that, based upon the available evidence, the allegation is believed to be more likely to be true than not true by a majority of the members of the Board. It should be noted that a Review Board determination is not the equivalent of a civil or criminal court finding.

 

Are there priests now serving in our diocese with credible allegations of sexual abuse against them?

No. We have consistently followed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People issued in 2002, which states that no cleric may serve in ministry following a credible allegation of sexual abuse against a minor.

 

If the allegations are found to be credible, will you fire the priest?

If an allegation of child sexual abuse against a priest is found to be credible, he will not return to ministry. Such individuals may also face criminal prosecution. 

The ordination of a priest binds him and his bishop in a special relationship, which normally continues for the entirety of a man’s service. Therefore, the Bishop, while ensuring a priest is never again put in a position in which he could harm a child, is canonically responsible to work for his rehabilitation, if that is possible, and to provide for his basic needs. However, in some circumstances, based on the gravity of the priest’s actions, the relationship between a priest and bishop can be severed. This process is called “laicization” and results in restoring a man to the lay state.

 

What happens to an accused priest if the allegations are found not to be credible?

If allegations against a priest are found not to be credible by both the civil authorities and the diocesan Review Board, and if there are no other impediments to his ability to serve, then the priest is restored to full ministry and actions are taken that will attempt to restore his good name.