Issues relating to the Protection of Children and Young People

Mrs. Amy Cordon serves as Child and Youth Protection Officer of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Her offices are at the Catholic Life Center, 1800 South Acadian Thruway, in Baton Rouge. Her mailing address is P. O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2028; telephone 225-242-0202; fax 225-242-0233. A special confidential "Sexual Abuse Victim Response Contact Line" to be used in reporting any instance of child sexual abuse by an employee of the Church or a volunteer in one of the Church's programs has been set up: 225-242-0250.

Anyone victimized as a child or young person is urged to report this first to secular authorities (you can do so online to the Louisiana State Police by clicking here, or access information about reporting to the Louisiana State Department of Social Services by clicking here), as well as to the special diocesan "Sexual Abuse Victim Response Contact Line" (telephone 225-242-0250) or to the diocesan counselors at Catholic Charities (telephone 225-336-8708.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge, in conjunction with Austin Computing Solutions, has implemented the eApps database system, for documenting all background checks and safe environment training for clergy and other Church employees and volunteers. The eApps system is accessible only by designated administrators at each parish and school: these may click here to access eApps. To download the eApps application form (in .PDF format) to be used by individuals seeking to establish their suitability for ministry with children and young people, click here.

In June of 2002 the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and set up its Office of Child and Youth Protection. In December 2002 the USCCB promulgated the corresponding Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons which had been approved by the Holy See.

Yet the Diocese of Baton Rouge has had a formal policy to deal with issues of abuse of children by clergy since Bishop Stanley Joseph Ott promulgated this in November of 1989. The policy was revised in 1999 to extend its provisions to all employees of the diocese and its parishes and subsidiary institutions and then again in 2004 to more clearly incorporate elements of the US bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the norms which accompanied these; click here to read the diocesan policy. Moreover, additional specific policies are applicable to Catholic schools within the diocese.

Every effort has been made to follow the stipulations of this policy, which long before any national policy was enacted provided for swift and fair investigation, outreach and care for anyone who was victimized, and removal from ministry by anyone found to have abused. Implementation of the policy from the start was entrusted to trained and expert persons who could provide objective evaluations and decision-making as an aid to the Bishop of Baton Rouge.

A Code of Ethics and Behavior has been developed; click here to read it. Note that the full "Volunteer Information Packet" referenced in this Code may be obtained from the Child Protection Site Coordinator of the employee's/volunteer's Church Parish or Catholic School.

Bishop Robert Muench in 2003 reconstituted the "Independent Review Board" in accord with the Charter, and charged it with providing for the revision of the diocesan policies as needed. He also has seen to it that even before the most recent revisions of the policy new efforts have been made to inform clergy and other Catholic administrators and educators of the mandatory nature of all national and diocesan policies, and to train them in ways of promoting an even more safe environment for our young people. Diocesan spokespersons have addressed the issue of child abuse prevention over and over again over the past few years, particularly in our Catholic schools and catechetical programs. Independent annual audits by The Gavin Group in August of 2003, October of 2004, and October of 2005 have found the Diocese of Baton Rouge in full compliance with national norms.

Finally, in accord with the US bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a "Safe Environment for Children" training program is being implemented in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Click here for more information about this program, which is known as the Safe In Place program. Other information for parents is available: click here for it.