Statement on John Jay School of Criminal Justice Study

Statement on John Jay School of Criminal Justice Study

by Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester

On behalf of the Diocese of Worcester, I want to express our deep appreciation to the John Jay School of Criminal Justice for their independent research at such an unprecedented scale on the nature and scope of child sexual abuse which occurred in the Catholic Church in the United States. It will be invaluable in our national and now international efforts as a Church to continue to assure to the best of our ability that such horrific crimes are not perpetrated again. Clearly one lesson learned is that the implementation for nearly a decade of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People has been making a difference as seen in the precipitous drop in cases of abuse.

I will ask members of our parish and diocesan staffs and local advisory committees to review these findings and identify from this research what areas we can continue to improve. I hope and pray that what was learned by this massive undertaking will also be of help to all organizations who work with young people in our country as our society continues to grapple with this terrible crime against vulnerable children today.

May 18, 2011, WORCESTER, MA