Abp. Flynn Clarifies Archdiocesan Audit Report

Archbishop Harry Flynn of St. Paul-Minneapolis, in his regular column in The Catholic Spirit maintained that he was "distressed" about the tone of an article in the Pioneer Press-Dispatch reporting that the USCCB Audit team held the archdiocese to be non-complaint with one of the seventeen items in the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People."

More than 18 months ago, the archdiocese decided on a timetable for the implementation of its safe environment program. It was a timetable we believed was absolutely necessary to have sufficient time to inform and involve the parents of children in our schools and in all our religious education programs, a total of 90,000 children.

When the team of independent auditors visited the archdiocese last summer to review our progress with the various articles of the charter, we reminded them about this timetable. And we told them why it could not be accelerated to meet their deadlines.

The auditors did not accept this explanation and told us that we would be found “out of compliance” with the charter in this one area — the timing regarding the completion of our safe environment program.
[snip]
It is true that there has been some misunderstanding and mistaken assumptions about safety programs to be used with our children, and resulting opposition from some parents. But that is not the reason for our timetable for implementing this training. Rather, we took the time necessary in order to keep parents in charge.
[snip]
I do admit that I am somewhat troubled by the fact that the national audit standards appear to have changed over the past three years. Our plan for implementation seemed to have met with approval two years ago but has been found unacceptable now. In my judgment, it was not that our plan changed, but the standard against which it was judged.

We are initiating pilot training programs for children in nine parishes this spring. During the coming school year, the training will be conducted at all our schools, as well as for all of our religious education students.

As I mentioned, there will be various training program options from which parents and pastors may choose. As this training continues, I welcome any comments or concerns from parents. And I strongly encourage your involvement because these are your children, and we are all committed to protect them and to continue to help them grow in Christ’s image.