Cardinal Wilton Gregory as the archbishop of Washington in December 2024 promulgated The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s updated Safe Environment Policy for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults.
In a Dec. 10, 2024 letter to clergy, consecrated religious, principals, presidents and staff and volunteers of the Archdiocese of Washington, Cardinal Gregory said that the biggest change in the updated policy is that it “has been reorganized into five sections, corresponding to the five pillars foundational to our safe environment efforts:
1.) “a comprehensive prevention program consisting of mandatory criminal background checks and training for all clergy and seminarians, and for all employees and volunteers who minister to young people and vulnerable adults; age-appropriate education for those we serve; a network of local parish compliance coordinators who work with our Offices of Human Resources and Safe Environment; and other safeguards;”
2.) “pastoral care, counseling, and other assistance offered to aid in the healing of survivors of abuse and their families;”
3.) “mandatory reporting of all suspected abuse to civil authorities;”
4.) “a clear, timely, and just process for responding to allegations, with ‘zero tolerance’ for abuse; and”
5.) “accountability and transparency in communicating with our faith communities and the public.”
In that letter, Cardinal Gregory also said, “Throughout the Church of Washington, we must always maintain an unwavering commitment to safeguard those in our care.”
The cardinal noted that the archdiocese’s updated Safe Environment policy can be viewed and downloaded at: https://adw.org/safeenvironment
That web page also has a link to “Ten Things to Know about the Archdiocese of Washington’s Safe Environment Policy,” including:
• The Archdiocese of Washington has had a written policy in place since 1986 that “was one of the first adopted nationwide, and it has been regularly reviewed and updated, most recently in 2024.”
• “The archdiocese’s comprehensive safe environment program requires mandatory criminal background checks and training in abuse prevention and awareness.” These requirements “apply to all clergy and seminarians as well as all employees and volunteers who minister to young people and vulnerable adults.”
• The safe environment program includes an educational component for young people that “requires annual training and educational programs as part of the curriculum for minors and vulnerable adults who are enrolled in archdiocesan schools, religious education and similar programs.”
• The Safe Environment Policy prioritizes the archdiocese’s “commitment to offering pastoral care and assistance for survivors of abuse and their families.” The archdiocese maintains an Office of Safe Environment, “as well as a Victim Assistance Coordinator who arranges for appropriate, compassionate and timely pastoral care for survivors and their families.”
• The archdiocese’s Safe Environment Policy “mandates reporting of all allegations of suspected abuse to both civil authorities consistent with local laws and to the archdiocese.”
• The policy also “prescribes a clear, timely, and just process in response to all allegations.”
• “The archdiocese has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for abuse.” The policy “provides that a single act of sexual abuse by any cleric, employee, or volunteer that is admitted, or established after an appropriate process, will be grounds for permanent removal from ministry.”
• “The archdiocese relies upon an advisory board of professionals to assist with its safe environment efforts.” The advisory board, which is comprised mainly of lay people with relevant experience, regularly consults with the archbishop on all aspects of the archdiocese’s safe environment policies.
• “The archdiocese is committed to accountability and transparency.” The Archdiocese of Washington “undergoes an annual audit of its safe environment program and publishes an annual report that compiles data and compliance information related to its safe environment program.”
(The Archdiocese of Washington’s Office of Safe Environment can be contacted by emailing safeenvironment@adw.org or by calling 301-853-5328. The archdiocese’s Office of Victim Assistance can be contacted at victimassistance@adw.org or by calling 301-853-5302.)
