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Reporting of a Historical Case of Abuse - the process when reporting abuse of a minor that happened in the past and where the victim is now an adult (18 years of age or older). The choice of whether to report the incident(s) to the police or other civil authorities is left to the victim/survivor.
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Reporting of a Historical Case of Abuse:
1. Contact the Director of Responsible Ministry
Phone: 306-922-4747 Ext. 234
Confidential email: responsibleministry@padiocese.ca
2. At the claimant’s request, an initial meeting will be set up including the complainant and their support person, the Director of Responsible Ministry from the diocese and one member of the Responsible Ministry Advisory Team (RMAT). The location of the meeting will be one with which the complainant is most comfortable, and the complainant will know the identity of those attending so that any conflict of interest can be avoided.
At this meeting, the complainant is invited to provide details about their disclosure either in writing or verbal form (or both).Questions may be asked for clarification of the disclosure.Notes will be taken by the diocese representatives and will be shared with the complainant after the meeting to assure accuracy.
3. Confidentiality must be maintained throughout the process with information being shared with only those who need to know.
4. A support person who is not a part of the investigation process will be offered to the complainant and their family and a different support person will be offered to the accused person (respondent). These persons will assist with communications and understanding the procedures of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert and can provide emotional and possibly spiritual support but not counseling.
5. Should the complainant desire it, a meeting may be set up with the lay membership of the Responsible Ministry Advisory Team to further explain their disclosure and share the impacts on their life to date.
6. The alleged perpetrator will be put on administrative leave until the conclusion of the process(es) if in active ministry.
7. The Director of Responsible Ministry and the lay members of the RMAT will assess the complaint and investigate, interviewing witnesses and the accused if possible. In the event that a criminal or civil action is currently in progress, the RMAT may not be convened until all legal proceedings have been completed.
8. Once the investigation is completed, a report will be produced by the RMAT and Director of Responsible Ministry summarising the disclosure and assessing its credibility and whether it could be substantiated. A case may be considered substantiated by admission of guilt by the respondent, by corroboration of statements pointing to guilt, by information from other reporting persons coming forward or by a canonical penal process. If the disclosure is deemed credible and/or substantiated the RMAT and DRM will offer an expression of regret, for all you have suffered, on behalf of the Diocese. The report should include recommendations to the Bishop. Once the process is complete, the victim/survivor may request to meet with the Bishop.
9. Counselling, pastoral, and spiritual care will be offered to the complainant.
10. A complainant always retains the right to go to civil authorities any time throughout the process.
11. Attention will be given to facilitating the healing of the victim/survivor recognizing that the process often occurs over an extended period of time and needs to be driven by the person involved.