The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sat. Dec. 18, 2004, p. B2

Archdiocese passes reform audit

The Archdiocese of Atlanta passed an audit last month that examined whether it was coplying with reforms to prevent sex abuse of children and youth by clergy, outside auditors announced.

The annual audit, commissioned three years ago by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was performed Nov. 8-12.  The reforms call for outreach to victims of clergy sexual abuse and procedures to respond promptly to abuse allegations, among other items.

The audit found the archdiocese "to be compliant with all articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," the reform document created by bishops.

Atlanta Archbishop John Donoghue declined to be interviewed about the audit but did release a letter he sent to his priests.

"It is a great pelaseure to report to you that the archdiocese was found in compliance with every article of the Charter and was not given any directive to correct," Donoghue wrote. "The auditors told me that our archdiocese had exceeded the expectations of the charter."

U.S. bishops created the charter in 2002 after revelations of widespread sexual abuse of children within the church and subsequent cover-ups.

Voice of the Faithful-Atlanta, a victms' assistance group, delivered a mixed reaction to the audit's results.  John Dearie, the group's Atlanta chairman, said the audit relied solely on information provided by the archdiocese.

Dearie also said that, other than a few newspaper ads just prior to the audit, victims haven't seen or heard of any outreach to survivors as required by the charter.