Archbishop's Message on the SemiAnnual Compliance Report

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As a newcomer to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received. It has been a privilege to not only get to know the people here but to learn of the history of our area, which is wholly intertwined with the local Church. We have many things to be proud of as New Orleans Catholics. Over these past almost three hundred years, the Church’s contributions to the development of our region are too many to count. I have also learned that sadly, the scourge of the evil of child sexual abuse has hurt so many and has blemished our local Church and our community. I write to you today with a humble heart filled with hope and a resolute spirit to share with you what we are doing as an Archdiocese to prevent further abuse.  While unfortunately we cannot undo the evil of the past, we must act with vigilance today and I am happy to report, we are.

Our mission is to spread the Gospel, to witness God’s love and mercy and to bring others to better know, love and serve Jesus. We are hindered in fulfilling this if parents do not trust us and children do not feel safe. As Archbishop of New Orleans, I am committed to a zero-tolerance policy of abuse. I urge anyone who has been abused by clergy to come forward, as brave survivors before you have done. Every report of abuse, no matter the extent, who is being accused or when it happened, will be reported to law enforcement.  For the past ten years as a bishop in my former diocese, this has been my practice and everyone is aware that it is to continue here.  Additionally, we have recently hired consultants and new staff and restructured our Office of Child and Youth Protection.

While the attached document is legalistic in nature, the result is that our policies are now enhanced through the efforts to implement the non-monetary provisions agreed upon during our Chapter 11 case.  We are ensuring a culture of vigilance, transparency and accountability that will last into the future. We are actively reviewing and updating our policies to reflect a gold standard in best practices for child protection understanding that these are living documents that must be regularly reviewed. Through our reenergized efforts coupled with the painful lessons from the past, I truly believe there is not another organization in Louisiana doing more than us to protect children.

The adults who work and volunteer in our ministries are required to undergo background checks and safe environment training. We have witnessed the fruits of these labors as parent volunteers, who are fully aware of their roles as mandatory reporters, come forward to report concerns and children feel safe to report suspicious behaviors to trusted adults in our ministries. Last year alone, there were over 17,000 adults – our priests and deacons and those who work and volunteer in our parishes, schools, and ministries – active in our Safe Environment Program Virtus. This included over 10,000 adult volunteers who generously give up their time for the benefit of the children in our care. In that same year, nearly 30,000 children were trained through our Safe Environment program to recognize signs of abuse. These trainings have given children the knowledge and tools they need to protect not only themselves but their friends as well. As you can imagine, this is a huge annual, ongoing effort of time and money, but all well spent!

I am proud to say that this August, once again, our Catholic schools will welcome thousands of families and tens of thousands of children throughout our Archdiocese seeking a Catholic education. This past Easter, over 700 people – men, women, and children – some even together as families – entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. This is a record number for us!  Another 180 Catholic adults received the Sacrament of Confirmation this year on Pentecost Sunday at our Cathedral of St. Louis, also a record number, while literally thousands more adults and teenagers were confirmed in their parishes. These are all signs of hope - that the Holy Spirit is moving amongst us - and, that by the grace and goodness of God, people are seeking a deeper relationship with our Lord through the Church.

Our children are special blessings, and I am committed to doing all we possibly can to keep them safe. I am committed to pastorally responding to the needs of the survivors who have been hurt and may feel neglected and even rejected. Since my arrival here in November, I have set aside time weekly in my schedule for this. Likewise, including them in my prayers is something I consider urgent too.  I am proud of the work our faithful and so many in the archdiocese are doing daily to prioritize the protection of our children.

We have recently consecrated the Archdiocese of New Orleans to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is an opportunity for us to receive a new life, mercy and healing flowing from the very heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of God’s intense love for us but also compels us to emulate it, as He calls us to be like Him: to be merciful to one another, especially those in need. The Sacred Heart of Jesus offers us comfort in times of distress in our lives, our families, our Church and world. Let us pray that the Sacred Heart of Jesus will guide us and strengthen us in this work of bringing souls to know and love Him.  I feel privileged to be on this journey with you, thanks to Pope Leo sending me as your shepherd.

Know of my love, prayers and gratitude for you and please remember to pray for me.