Q: When an Oblate is alleged to have abused a young person, what happens?

A: Anytime an allegation of sexual abuse, which is not initially shown to be manifestly false or frivolous, is made against an Oblate, that man is removed from ministry until a full investigation is conducted. If the information gathered shows that he is guilty of the abuse, he is permanently removed from public ministry as a priest or brother.

Since we Oblates are members of a religious community, we are responsible to provide housing for all of our men, whether they are in active ministry, retired, or infirmed. In a similar fashion, we provide for our men who are guilty of abuse. Presently, they are assigned to an Oblate community that is not attached to a public ministry of the church.

Q: How is the investigation conducted?

A: If the allegation is brought to our attention through a lawsuit, we are required to cooperate with the legal process and the outlined methods of discovery.

If the allegation is filed with the civil authorities about a recent incident, we cooperate with the various investigations that they lead.

If the allegation is not in reference to a recent incident, we will still contact the authorities and will hire an independent investigator to gather the necessary information. As Provincial, I will contact the Review Board, an independent committee of psychologists, counselors, social workers, and lawyers, who will make recommendations about the disposition of the case based on the information submitted by the investigator. The proceedings of the Review Board are monitored by Praesidium, the agency that accredits the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales for following industry standards in abuse risk-reduction.

Q: What happens to a man after he is removed from ministry?

A: All men removed from ministry are assigned to live in an Oblate community that is not attached to a public ministry of the church. They have no public ministry. Some are involved in caring for the needs of our retired men.

As part of the recommendations of the Review Board, each man is given a Safety Plan that outlines the protocols that he must follow and details the activities in which he may or may not participate. This plan clarifies the daily life of the man. He is supervised directly by a trained member of his community. He must seek explicit permission to leave that property. In some cases, he will be accompanied by a companion. Safety Plans are reviewed annually by the Review Board.

Q: What has been the response to victims of sexual abuse by Oblates?

A: We have been caring, responsible and just in our response to sexual abuse.

Caring: I offer to listen to anyone who alleges abuse if they are receptive to that invitation. There are times when I am prohibited by law to meet with alleged victims because a suit has been filed and my offering to meet them may be seen as potentially interfering.

Before becoming provincial in June 2018, I worked for many years in an Oblate parish in northern Virginia. Part of my ministry involved working with the Victim’s Assistance Program of the Diocese of Arlington. I gave spiritual guidance to several adult victims of childhood abuse. Together with an adult victim, I also gave a number of workshops and retreats, both to victims and to those who minister pastorally to them. With Teresa Pitt Green, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, I wrote a book in 2014 titled, Veronica’s Veil: Spiritual Companionship for Survivors of Abuse.

Caring involves listening with an open heart and, no matter the status of the allegation, saying, "I am sorry" for the hurt and the trauma experienced by the person before me.

Responsible: We Oblates have offered to help with the healing of abuse by providing counseling to anyone who has alleged abuse against one of our members. We work to support those who are struggling and to speak to their pain in a genuinely heart-felt manner. I was frequently reminded by adult victims of the importance of saying, "I am sorry."

Just: In addition to offering to provide for counseling and expressing genuine sorrow for their pain, we seek to render justice to anyone alleging abuse in any way that is appropriate to the particular set of circumstances.

Q: What are the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales doing to make sure that children and young people are safe now and in the future?

A: A great deal. Our Province has fully and consistently complied with Praesidium, an independent agency that certifies service groups in their compliance with industry standards for the prevention of abuse to children and young people. This process is similar to a school seeking accreditation to ensure that its academic and co-curricular programs are complying with national standards for learning and teaching.

An important aspect of Praesidium is the training of all Oblates in identifying signs of abuse and reporting abuse. Additionally, our recruitment and formation (seminary) programs were evaluated for their ability to screen candidates before they are admitted to ministry. Finally, we participate in a process that involves lay people to help us implement these accreditation standards. When we have any questions, we consult with the Review Board. To date, we have accepted every recommendation they have made. Their input as social workers, counselors, and lawyers is essential. Most important, though, is their perspective as parents and grandparents. I value their natural instincts as moms and dads in protecting children.

Q: What is your advice to anyone who may have been abused?

A: Get help as soon as possible, and report the abuse to the appropriate authorities. The pain of sexual abuse is deep, and healing is a necessary part of recovering the wholeness that is lost to the evil of sexual abuse. The suffering caused by this evil, especially when inflicted by a priest, brother, or seminarian, needs the attention of trained professionals to begin a process of healing.

It is my prayer that anyone impacted by sexual abuse would come forward. I ask them to contact Nina Kuziel, our survivor assistance coordinator, for help. She may be contacted at 202-643-4594 or by email at oblatesurvivorassistance@gmail.com. She will guide a person who has been abused through the different steps of seeking help and healing.

Q: Do you initiate or insist on confidentiality agreements when allegations are brought to your attention?

A: No. In fact, I do not believe that we Oblates have ever initiated or insisted on a confidentiality agreement. By law, we are required to contact the appropriate civil authorities when criminal behavior is reported to us, and these authorities then conduct necessary investigations. Furthermore, any civil litigation in which we have been involved has not resulted in a confidentiality agreement at our initiative.

Office of the Provincial Superior
2200 Kentmere Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19806
(302) 656-8529

Oblate Survivor Assistance Coordinator
Nina Kuziel
(202) 643-4594
oblatesurvivorassistance@gmail.com