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The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

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Safe Environments

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

660 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068    tel 847 518 8844    web passionist.org

 Provincial Superior

 

A Message from Joe Moons, C.P., Provincial Superior:

The Passionists are committed to prevention, accountability, healing and reconciliation.

Religious communities and institutes for consecrated life, as with all Church organizations, must ensure that children and young people who worship, study or participate in activities sponsored by our communities do so in the safest and most secure setting possible and proactively ensure that those who have abused are prevented from causing further harm to others.

The Passionists have worked with the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) to promote the protection of minors in men's religious communities and have partnered with Praesidium, Inc. This has resulted in national standards for safeguarding by men's religious institutes; a National Advisory Council of recognized experts to advise CMSM; and continuing education.

CMSM is the national organization for U.S. leaders of Roman Catholic men’s religious institutes, monastic communities, and societies of apostolic life. As the common voice for the leaders of these organizations, CMSM promotes dialogue and collaboration in service to over 16,000 religious priests and brothers in the United States.

Praesidium, Inc. is the national leader in abuse risk management and provides accreditation for religious orders.  The Passionists of Holy Cross Province have been awarded Praesidium, Inc. Accreditation. ™ In a reassuring report by Praesidium, Inc., Holy Cross Province was found to be following the highest current national standards for protecting children, earning high honors in abuse prevention policies, practices and response.

The Passionists stand in solidarity with those who were abused. We renew our personal and organizational commitment to do all that we can to keep young people in our own ministries safe, now and into the future.

We affirm our commitment to the protection of young people, to creating safe environments where young people flourish as children of God and people of faith.

We pledge to continue to implement child safety education, background checks, reporting, and external reviews of our child protection efforts. To this end, we will continue to collaborate with CMSM and Praesidium, Inc. on implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Young People and to be vigilant in the screening and formation of applicants for the priesthood and religious life.

We pray for the healing of survivors of abuse and their families.  May they in time discover a sense of inner peace and stability and be able to move forward in their lives.

Let us keep each other in prayer,

Joe Moons, C.P.
Provincial Superior

Explanation of External Review Board Expand

 

The External Review Board (ERB), established in June 2009, meets with the Provincial annually, unless asked to meet more frequently. As a confidential, consultative body, the responsibilities of the Board include providing counsel to the Provincial in the following areas:

  • Affirming decisions regarding the credibility of allegations brought against a religious of Holy Cross Province.
  • Ensuring that a proper investigation is conducted in response to an allegation of sexual abuse.
  • Determining the kinds of work and other activities that are suitable for a religious accused of sexual abuse of a minor.
  • Evaluating the appropriateness of the Province's response to a person who survived sexual abuse as a minor.
  • Reviewing educational programs within the Province dealing with healthy sexuality and appropriate boundaries.
  • Reviewing the Province's Policy on Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
  • Reviewing Safety Plans of religious who have faced credible allegations of abuse of a minor and making recommendations to the Provincial for modifications the Board considers necessary.

Province policy provides that there are to be five members of the External Review Board.  After consultation with the members of the Board and others whom the Provincial chooses, the Provincial, with the consent of the Provincial Council, appoints the members of the Review Board.

 

Support for Survivors Expand

 

Holy Cross Province has reached out to survivors during the last 15 years to begin or contribute to the process of healing and the possibility of reconciliation.

In addition to offering to meet with a survivor pastorally, Holy Cross Province has offered to pay for counseling.  In this way, survivors have been offered a Counseling Agreement, regardless of the truth or falsity of such allegations. In some cases, individuals have requested to meet with the Provincial Superior, and he has done so. Holy Cross Province has also agreed to financial restitution with survivors.

 

Reporting Child Abuse and/or Neglect Expand

 

To ensure the best resources and investigation practices, The Passionists of Holy Cross Province encourage all allegations concerning the abuse and/or neglect of minors are reported to the local Child Protection Hotline listed below and/or the local police department first before reaching out to the Passionists.

If the suspected abuser is a Passionist and you need to report historical abuse of a minor, please contact Holy Cross Province’s Survivor Assistance Coordinator, Michael Bland, Psy.D., directly at 773-404-8161 or [email protected]

Regarding any such allegation, the safety and well-being of all children are of the utmost importance to The Passionists of Holy Cross Province. The Passionists have implemented policies and procedures that serve to protect minors from abuse and ensure that all allegations of the abuse of a minor are properly reported and investigated.

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province encourage anyone with an allegation of child sexual abuse to come forward. In the cities where we serve, you may call the local Child Protection Hotline as follows:

Birmingham, AL*         (205) 562-6100           (205) 324-2135 after hours

Fairfield, AL*                (205) 562-6100           (205) 324-2135 after hours

Citrus Heights, CA       (916) 875-5437

Sierra Madre, CA         (800) 540-4000

Chicago, IL                  (800) 252-2873

Louisville, KY               (800) 752-6200

Detroit, MI                  (855) 444-3911

Houston, TX                (800) 252-5400

*In Alabama mandated reports are taken up to the person’s 19th birthday.

Conduct Policy and Code of Conduct for Ministry Expand

Click here to view the Conduct Policy and Code of Conduct for Ministry, in English and Spanish, for Holy Cross Province and St. Paul of the Cross Province.

 

Safety Plan Expand

 

Since 2002, the Province has in place the development of individual Safety Plans for each religious who has sexually abused a minor. "Safety Plan" is the title used by Praesidium in its Accreditation Standards for such agreements. As one of several religious communities pledged to conform to the Praesidium Standards, Holy Cross Province has adopted the label “Safety Plan” for its use.

The plans include professional counseling, supervision, local monitoring and regular meetings with a supervisor and a spiritual director. Individual plans are reviewed annually by the external Survivor Assistant Coordinator and the independent External Review Board.

The voluntary Safety Plans are a requirement for religious who have established allegations of sexual abuse of minors if they choose to remain members of the Holy Cross Province.

Praesidium Accreditation Expand

 

Praesidium, Inc. performed an extensive recertification process of The Passionists of Holy Cross Province that included interviews with its vowed members and the Chair of its Review Board. During the audit period from July 2015 through September 2020, Praesidium also reviewed the policies, procedures and documentation of the implementation and maintenance of the Accreditation Standards.

Based on its review, Praesidium found The Passionists of Holy Cross Province “in full compliance” with all 20 of the organization’s Accreditation Standards. Each Standard includes a number of Requirements that must be met for accreditation, as well as detailed Clarifications of these Requirements. The entire current set of Praesidium’s Standards for Accreditation as adopted by CMSM is available here.

NB: Praesidium uses the word “Institute” to represent the organization being evaluated. In this instance, the Institute is Holy Cross Province.

Standards for Responding to Survivors (Standards 1-2)

Standard 1
The Institute responds pastorally and compassionately to any person who reports sexual abuse of a minor in order to promote healing for survivors of sexual abuse.

Standard 2
The Institute has a survivor assistance coordinator to provide support for those who allege sexual abuse as a minor.

Standards for Prevention (Standards 3-10)

Standard 3
The Major Superior of the Institute demonstrates competency in key areas of abuse prevention and response.

Standard 4
The Major Superior demonstrates transparency and commitment to the Members of the Institute.

Standard 5
The Institute screens new Candidates for a history of sexually abusing minors or violating the boundaries of minors.

Standard 6
The Institute provides specialized support and accountability at each stage in the initial formation of Members.

Standard 7
The Institute identifies and utilizes systems of support and accountability for its Members.

Standard 8
The Institute has established and published clear policies for boundaries with minors.

Standard 9
The Institute educates its Members on the knowledge and skills necessary for preventing and responding to abuse.

Standard 10
The Institute interrupts and intervenes when a Member violates the Institute’s policies regarding boundaries with minors

Standards for Responding to Allegations (Standards 11-16)

Standard 11
The Institute adheres to written protocols for responding to reports and allegations of sexual abuse of a minor and maintains documentation of adherence to those protocols in a manner that guarantees it will be available to future leadership.

Standard 12
The Institute reports known or suspected abuse of children who are still minors to civil authorities.

Standard 13
The Institute cooperates with civil authorities that are investigating an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.

Standard 14
The Institute investigates all reports and allegations of sexual abuse of minors by a Member, to the extent possible, based on the information provided.

Standard 15
The Institute demonstrates transparency in its response to allegations of sexual abuse of minors.

Standard 16
The Institute utilizes a review board for the purpose of providing consultation to the Major Superior on the response to all reports and allegations of sexual abuse of minors.

Standards for Supervision (Standards 17-20)

Standard 17
The Institute maintains a written, individualized Safety Plan to guide the supervision of any Member against whom an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been established.

Standard 18
The Institute ensures Members on a Safety Plan do not work in any position that allows access to minors or in any ecclesiastical ministry.

Standard 19
The Institute ensures Safety Plans are reviewed annually by the Major Superior and the review board to ensure ongoing compliance and the overall efficacy of the plan.

Standard 20
The Institute has identified appropriate levels of supervision for Members who have Safety Plans.

Copyright © 2020 Praesidium

 

A Prayer for Healing Survivors of Abuse Expand

 

God of endless love,
ever caring, ever strong,
always present, always just:
You gave your only Son
to save us by his blood on the cross.

Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace,
join to your own suffering
the pain of all who have been hurt
in body, mind, and spirit
by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.

Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters
who have been gravely harmed,
and the cries of those who love them.
Soothe their restless hearts with hope,
steady their shaken spirits with faith.

Grant them justice for their cause,
enlightened by your truth.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts,
heal your people’s wounds
and transform brokenness into wholeness.

Grant us the courage and wisdom,
humility and grace, to act with justice.
Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labors.
Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.


Copyright © 2014, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights
reserved. To order publication no. 7-495, visit usccbpublishing.org or call 877-978-0757.

Una Oración de Sanación Sobrevivientes de Abuso Expand

 

Dios del amor infinito,
Siempre presente, siempre justo;
Tú nos cuidas y nos proteges
Y nos diste a tu único Hijo
Para salvarnos con su sangre en la cruz.

Jesús manso, pastor de la paz,
Dígnate unir a tu propio sufrimiento
El dolor de todos los que han sido heridos
De cuerpo, mente y espíritu
Por parte de aquellos que traicionaron la confianza puesta en ellos.

Escucha el clamor de nuestros hermanos y hermanas
Que han sido lastimados gravemente,
Así como el clamor de aquellos que los aman.
Dales la esperanza que mitigue el desosiego de sus corazones,
Dales la fe que calme sus espíritus perturbados.

Concédeles justicia para su causa,
Ilumínalos con tu verdad.
Espíritu Santo, consolador de corazones,
Cura las heridas de tus hijos e hijas
Y devuelve la integridad a lo que ha sido quebrantado.

Concédenos el valor y la sabiduría,
La humildad y la gracia, para actuar con justicia.
Sopla tu sabiduría en nuestras oraciones y empeños.
Que todos los que han sido heridos por el abuso encuentren paz y justicia.

Te lo pedimos por Cristo, nuestro Señor. Amén.


Copyright © 2014, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights
reserved. To order publication no. 7-495, visit usccbpublishing.org or call 877-978-0757.

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The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
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