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The Catholic Diocese of Spokane is committed to providing a safe environment for all children, young adults, and vulnerable adults in our care by cultivating a culture of awareness and vigilance. The work of ensuring the safety of those entrusted to our care is a challenging undertaking. Each year our children and young people participate in the VIRTUS education program, Empowering God's Children, through which parents, teachers, catechists, and youth ministers give children and young people the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them.
All clergy, all employees, and all volunteers who work with children and young adults participate in the VIRTUS Protecting God's Children program and update their knowledge annually through online modules. These adults also read and sign our diocesan Code of Conduct and Commitment, Disclosure Statement, and have a criminal background check every five years. All clergy and employees receive Sexual Harassment training, and all clergy and volunteers who work in homebound ministries complete Vulnerable Adult training.
Diocese of Spokane parishes and ministries comply with all safe environment policies and procedures.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) audits our safe environment programs annually. Bishop Daly announced that the Diocese passed its 2020 audit; click here for audit results.
As of June 30, 2020, 7,555 children, youth, clergy, deacons, seminarians, teachers, staff, and volunteers have been educated and 2,710 clergy, deacons, seminarians, teachers, staff and volunteers have passed criminal background checks.
The Diocese is committed to providing healing resources and therapy for those who have experienced sexual abuse and their families. Please visit the links below for more information.
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To Report Abuse by Church Persons or Volunteers call:Victim Assistance Coordinator: (509) 353-0442
Vicar for Priests: (509) 466-0220
Write to: Catholic Diocese of Spokane, P.O. Box 1453, Spokane, WA 99210-1453 addressed to any of the following:
- Bishop Thomas Daly
- Diocesan Vicar for Priests
- Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator
Mark your letter "Personal and Confidential"
Another option: You may request that your counselor or attorney contact us. If you are unsure of how best to do this, contact any of the people listed above.
TO REPORT abuse or the mishandling of an abuse claim by a Catholic Bishop, click below on the Bishops reporting site or call 1-800-276-1562.
Code of CONDUCT AND COMMITTMENT
Victim Assistance Website
Bishop Reporting Site
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Child Protective Services
Spokane County (509) 363-3333
(800) 557-9671/(800) 562-5624
Department of Social and Health Services (866) 363-4276
Adult Protective Services (APS)
(800) 459-0421
Law Enforcement
Adams County: (509) 659-1122
Asotin County: (509) 243-4171
Columbia County: (509) 382-2518
Ferry County: (509) 775-3132
Franklin County: (509) 545-3500
Lincoln County: (509) 725-3501
Garfield County: (509) 843-3493
Okanogan County (509) 422-7200
Pend Oreille County: (800) 669-3407
Spokane County: (509) 456-2233
Stevens County: (800) 572-0947
Walla Walla County: (509) 527-3265
Whitman County: (509) 397-6266 or (509) 397-4341Abuse Reporting Forms
All clergy, employees, and volunteers who suspect that a child, youth or vulnerable adult is a victim of abuse or neglect must report the suspected abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agency AND to Child Protective Services (children and youth) or Adult Protective Services (vulnerable adults). Complete the form below before calling the appropriate agency.
Form 401: English
Form 401: Spanish
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Preventing and Responding to Abuse: Policies, Procedures and Training
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- Administrative Policies/Procedures: Education, Prevention, and Reporting of Abuse (revised 5.2021)
- “CARES” Guidelines/Standards of Behavior and Youth Trips Involving Overnight Stay (Catholic Mutual)
- Clergy Testmonial letters for visiting the Catholic Diocese of Spokane
- Clergy Testimonial letters for ministering in other dioceses
- Code of Conduct and Commitment for Church Persons
- Criminal Background Checks: Guidelines for Findings
- Diocesan Clergy Who Chaperone Youth and Young Adults Outside the Diocese
- Guest Speakers from Other Diocese
- Lay Ministers and Volunteers Who Chaperone Youth and Young Adults
- Safe Environment Training and Background Checks for Volunteers
- Sexual Abuse Communications Policy and Procedure
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Virtus Database instructions for local coordinators (how to's)
Virtus Database instructions for Facilitators (how to's)
Virtus Facilitator update webinar (November 2019)
Local Coordinator Webinar (May, 2021)
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Form 101 - Training Roster for Children/Youth
Form 105 - Agreement for Youth Who Work with Minors (rev. 5/2021)
Form 106 - Parent Denial of Permission to Participate (rev. 4/2018)
Form 203 - Code of Conduct and Commitment (rev. May 2021)
Form 203A - Code of Conduct in Spanish (rev. January 2019)
Form 206 - Disclosure Statement (rev. January 2018)
Forma 206A - Disclosure Statement in Spanish (April 2018)
Form 303 - Background consent (rev. March 2018)
Forma 303A - Background consent in Spanish ( March 2020)
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Safe Environment Committee - Purpose and Members
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Committee Purpose
Bishop appoints committee members to advise him, the Vicars, and the diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection on all matters related to preventing and addressing personal boundary violation behaviors, especially those related to the sexual abuse of children, youth, and legally vulnerable adults in the Diocese of Spokane.
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Safe Enviroment Committee Members
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Rev. Darrin Connall
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Dr. Thomas Curran -
Fabienne Heacoxfheacoxdioceseofspokane.orgAdministrative Assistant
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Janice House -
Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski -
Victoria Loveland
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Deacon Gonzalo Martinez -
Dr. Duane Schaferdfschaferdioceseofspokane.orgDirector
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Jen Siira -
vacdioceseofspokane.orgVictims Assistance Coordinator
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Deacon Kelly Stewart -
Rev. Steve Werner
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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.
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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. Se reservan todos los derechos. Para ordenar la publicación no. 7-495 visite el sitio web usccbpublis
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Network ministries that promote healing and Christian restorative justice for adults, families, and faith communities wounded by child abuse:
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Diocesan Review Board - Purpose and Members
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Purpose of the Review Board
The Review Board is a confidential consultative body to the Catholic Bishop of Spokane and his advisors. The Review Board oversees policies and procedures to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct and other inappropriate behavior by church persons. Responsibilities include: 1) advising the Bishop in his assessment of sexual abuse accusations against clergy and in his determination of suitability for ministry; 2) assuring immediate assistance to victims, timely cooperation with civil authorities, and the just treatment of accused persons.
The majority of its members are lay persons not employed by the diocese.
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Current Members
- Marcia Black-Gallucci
- Susan Foster-Dow
- Janice House
- Susan Levernier
- Deacon Gonzalo Martinez
- Richard J. Schroeder
- Rev. Tyrone Schaff
- Rev. Patrick Kerst, Vicar for Priests
- Roberta Smith, Staff in attendance
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Admitted, Proven or Credibly Accused Clergy
NON-MONETARY UNDERTAKINGS OF THE SPOKANE DIOCESE
Pursuant to Article 26 of the Second Plan of Reorganization, the Spokane Diocese will post on its website the names of all known Spokane Diocesan clergy, religious order clergy not incardinated in the Spokane Diocese who nevertheless were functioning as clergy in and for the Spokane Diocese, and other religious order clergy and religious that served within the Spokane Diocese who are admitted, proven or credibly accused perpetrators of sexual abuse. For any perpetrator of abuse who was a Spokane Diocesan clergy and is deceased, the name of that perpetrator will be posted in accordance with the policy of the Review Board of the Spokane Diocese which provides for publication of the name of the deceased perpetrator against whom a credible allegation of sexual abuse has been made only if that posting is requested by a victim of that perpetrator.
UNDER THE SECOND PLAN OF REORGANIZATIONSpokane Diocesan Clergy
Reinard Beaver*
*Indicates diocesan clergy who have also been removed from ministry pursuant to the provisions of The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which was approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2002.
Garry Boulden*
Theodore Bradley*
Joseph Knecht (deceased -1956)
Otto Koltzenberg*
Arthur Mertens* (deceased - 2011)
Patrick O’Donnell*
James O’Malley* (deceased - 2007)
Bernard “Benno” Oosterman* (deceased - 2011)
Joseph Pineau (deceased - 1982)
Theophilus Pypers (deceased - 1957)
Daniel Wetzler*Jesuit Clergy/Religious
John Coughlin (deceased – 1965?)
Dominic Doyle (deceased - 2005)
Michael Kosak (seminarian – dismissed)
John Leary (deceased - 1993)
John McDonald (deceased - 1985)
Fenton Melia (deceased - 2008)
John Morse (deceased - 2015)
John O’Brien (deceased - 1989)
Peter O'Grady (deceased – 1993)
William Ryan (deceased - 1967)
Michael Toulouse (deceased - 1976)
Benjamin Trautman (deceased - 1999)Franciscan Clergy/Religious
Berard Connelly (deceased - 1999)
Louis LadenburgerBenedictine Clergy/Religious
Gerald Dezurick (deceased – 1986)
Marianist Clergy/Religious
Augustine Ludwig
Outside the Diocese/Clergy & Religious
Joseph Sondergeld (deceased - 1969) (Diocese of Yakima)
Clarence Vavra (Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis)
Links to Neighboring Dioceses' Lists of Admitted, Proven or Credibly Accused Clergy
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