A Reconciliation and Healing Service between the victims of clergy abuse and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland March 25, 2000

PART III

SPECIFICALLY, our Diocesan policies in the area of reported sexual abuse involving clergy or Church employees include the following :

The Diocese of Oakland will respond promptly to all allegations of clerical sexual misconduct, even if the complaint is anonymous.

• The first concern of the Diocese is to offer immediate and appropriate care to victims and their families. We will be concerned for their rights, reputation, healing and spiritual welfare.
  
• In all cases, past and present, when there is a probability of sexual misconduct involving minors, the priest or other Church employee will be placed on administrative leave and the Diocese of Oakland will comply with the obligations of civil law as regards reporting of the incident to legal authorities and cooperating with the investigation.
  
• The Diocese of Oakland values open communication and dialogue with the community concerning clerical sexual abuse within the confines of respect for the privacy of the individuals involved.
  
• The Diocese promises to give priests that sexually abuse appropriate treatment, psychological evaluations and recommendations for therapy. We will follow their progress in order that the Church does not push their problem onto the rest of society. The priest is expected to take the prescribed therapy.
  
• A priest who has engaged in sexual misconduct with a child will not be returned to a ministry where there is contact with children.
  
• Conditions and limitations will be placed on the priest’s ministry in any case, including after-care, continuing therapy, residence and supervisions. These conditions will be in writing and will be monitored by a person(s) designated by the Bishop. In cases where the return to ministry is not permissible, a priest will be asked to resign, retire or seek laicization. If he is not laicized, he may be required to live in a supervised setting designated by the Bishop.
  
• We commit the Diocese of Oakland to an on-going dialogue with survivors of clerical abuse.