The Diocese of San Bernardino has received an important national validation that our churches, schools and ministries are among the safest places for children and young people.
On July 9-10, the Diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection underwent an on-site audit by StoneBridge Business Partners and was found compliant with all audited articles within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People during the past three years.
“Although there is always room for improvement, receiving the Charter compliance letter proves not only the Office of Child and Youth Protection’s commitment to keeping our children safe, but our bishop’s commitment, and the commitment of all the parishes, Catholic schools, and diocesan offices we collaborate with,” said Elder Samaniego, Director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection.
The Charter articles include the diocese’s response to clergy sexual abuse victims, safe environment training and background checks of clergy, employees, volunteers with minors, minors enrolled in Catholic schools and parish programs, child abuse reporting protocols, set safe environment policies and procedures, and accountability.
“Our office cannot do its job without the collaboration of all diocesan entities and roles. The ancient proverb says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ but I’ve learned and add that ‘it also takes a village to protect a child, as well as it takes a village to heal a child when abuse happens,’” Samaniego said.
The auditors interviewed 18 diocesan representatives, Diocesan Review Board members, and visited and interviewed pastors and staff at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and School, Riverside, Our Lady of Hope Parish, and Aquinas High School, San Bernardino. Those interviewed were Samaniego, Bishop Alberto Rojas, Msgr. Gerard Lopez, Vicar General, Sister Leticia Salazar, ODN, Chancellor, John Andrews, Vice Chancellor, Bill Leman, Diocesan Legal Counsel, Sister Rosaline O’Connor, RSM, Victim Assistance Coordinator, Sinia Regalado, Director of Human Resources, Father Erik Esparza, Director of Priest Personnel, Deacon Luis Sanchez, Director of Deacons, Father Hau Vu, Vocations Director, Dr. Amanda Alexander, Director of Ministry Formation Institute and Edgardo Juarez, Associate Director, Office of Catholic Schools.
The Diocesan Review Board is the bishop’s consultative body for matters related to allegations of clergy abuse and it is required that the majority of its members not be clergy. The Board members are Gerry Lopez, Chair and Retired Deputy District Attorney, Dr. Irma Obregon, psychologist, Dr. Robert Ferret, education, Marty Swanson, Retired Judge, Father David Foxen, M.S.C. Parish and School Representatives are Father Ted Drennan, Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and School, Father Roberto Flores, S.V.D., Pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Dr. Christopher Barrows, Aquinas High School President, and Ron Simmons, Vice Principal at Aquinas High School.
“I believe that the USCCB Charter Compliance Audit is an essential practice that one, commits the bishop to implement safe environment practices that prevent the sexual abuse of minors in his diocese, two, enforces the responsibility of reporting all suspected child abuse, three, commits bishops to embrace and accompany victims of abuse, four, makes bishops accountable to their commitment at the 2002 Dallas meeting, as a response to the clergy sexual abuse allegations and five, commits all clergy, employees, and volunteers, to protecting our children, young people, and vulnerable adults from all matters related to abuse,” Samaniego said.
From August 2023 to August of this year, 2024, 8,147 adults have completed their safe environment training.
Clergy, employees, and volunteers with minors are required to undergo a criminal background check through the California Department of Justice Fingerprint Live Scan method. Through this same method, the Diocese also requests an FBI criminal background check for each individual.
A background check is not complete until the diocese, through the Office of Human Resources, receives the results. The Office of Human Resources oversees all background check processes, provides background check forms, and background check results to entities. All background check information is confidential and is never shared with organizations outside of the diocese. The Office of Child and Youth Protection oversees background check compliance.