Healing & Prevention

It is the role and the responsibility of the Diocese of Worcester to implement the Policy of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This was issued in 2005, and resissued in 2011. 

It is the role and responsibility of the Office for Healing & Prevention to oversee the enforcement of the Policy and Procedures for the Protection of Minors and to offer outreach to victims and their families. 

The objectives of the office include the following:

• Provide prompt and effective response to allegations  
• Offer healing and reconciliation to survivors and their families
• Create a safe environment for children and young people
• Cooperate with civil authorities
• Provide means of accountability for the future to ensure the problem is effectively resolved

A Promise to Protect

In response to the crisis of the sexual abuse of children by clergy in the Catholic Church, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCD) drafted a landmark document in Dallas, Texas, at its 2002 summer assembly. In this statement, the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (the Charter), the bishops recommit themselves to victims/survivors and their families and to each other in order to ensure—to the best of their abilities—that sexual abuse of minors within the Church will never happen again. A comprehensive set of procedures to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy, the Charter includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. To learn more our programs download a copy of the brochure: Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal or visit the USCCB Office of Child and Youth Protection.

2020 Religious Education Forms for the Audit: (Click to open and print)