From Father Steven

​Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
Last summer, the Church saw the urgent need to create ways to hold bishops accountable for their actions as well as ways to investigate allegations against them. The Bishops of the Boston province (Dioceses from MA, NH, VT, and ME) have agreed to make a reporting system available now in the wake of Pope Francis’ landmark Vos estis letter and the nearly unanimous response to that letter by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2019. Together, they have launched a third party, independent system to report abuse by Catholic bishops. Please read their statement below.
 
God bless,
Fr Steven
 
August 14, 2019
 
On May 9, 2019, Pope Francis promulgated a Motu Proprio, entitled Vos estis lux mundi, that identifies substantive measures to respond to the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Church. This includes requiring all dioceses in every country to establish a public, accessible and reliable system for reporting crimes of clergy sexual abuse and any cover-up of abuse by May 31, 2020. It also requires the estaAblishment of new procedural norms for investigating crimes by bishops and supreme moderators of religious institutes, including both allegations of sexual abuse and any cover up by way of actions or omissions intended to conceal information or to interfere with investigations. 
 
At the June 2019 meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a measure was approved to establish a third-party national reporting system for allegations or complaints involving bishops in the United States. The system will be designed to receive, via phone or email, confidential information reporting possible violations by bishops. This vote was taken following guidance articulated in Pope Francis Vos estis lux mundi. 
 
Vos estis lux mundi allows until May 31, 2020, for the development of local systems to receive such reports. With the understanding that the implementation of the national system is months away, the bishops of the Boston Province agreed to join a program already established by the Archdiocese of Boston through an independent EthicsPoint tm website. The Province includes the Archdiocese of Boston (MA), Diocese of Fall River (MA), Diocese of Worcester (MA), Diocese of Springfield (MA), Diocese of Burlington (VT), Diocese of Manchester (NH) and the Diocese of Portland (ME).
 
Much has been accomplished over nearly two decades to address the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, including instituting mandatory reporting to civil authorities, protection and prevention training, and pastoral support and outreach for survivors, among other steps. However, more is required to ensure that there is an effective and independent system in place to report misconduct by bishops.  
 
Those who were sexually abused by clergy, along with their families and loved ones, must always be the central focus of our ongoing response to the sexual abuse of minors. There is no doubt that they have suffered greatly. In order for the Catholic Church to continue to restore trust and credibility, leadership must be committed to transparency and accountability. We hope and pray that this effort will further strengthen the work begun nearly two decades ago to offer healing.
 
Bishops of the Boston Province
Massachusetts                                                         New Hampshire                                   
- Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap.                   - Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci
  Archbishop of Boston                                                Bishop of Manchester
- Most Reverend Robert J. McManus                        Vermont
  Bishop of Worcester                                               - Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne                        
- Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski                         Bishop of Burilngton
  Bishop of Springfield                                               Maine
- Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, SDV               - Most Reverend Robert P. Deeley, JCD          
  Bishop of Fall River                                                   Bishop of Portland