Outcomes relating to the victim

Home: Survivors: Clergy Abuse: Towards healing

1. In the event that the Church authority is satisfied of the truth of the complaint, whether through admission of the offender, a finding of a court, a canon law process or a Church assessment, the Church authority shall respond to the needs of the victim in such ways as are demanded by justice and compassion. Responses may include the provision of an apology on behalf of the Church, the provision of counselling services or the payment of counselling costs. Financial assistance or reparation may also be paid to victims of a criminal offense or civil wrong, even though the Church is not legally liable.
2. The Church authority may seek such further information as it considers necessary to understand the needs of the victim.
3. Facilitation shall be the normal means of addressing the needs of the victim. The Church authority and the victim shall mutually agree on a Facilitator from the approved panel.
1. The Facilitator shall arrange and moderate a process for communication between the victim and Church authority (or delegate with power to make binding decisions). This may involve a meeting, under the direction of the Facilitator, in which apologies can be offered and unresolved problems addressed.
2. The victim may have a support person or adviser present at the meeting. The Church authority or delegate may also have an adviser if required. The presence of any other persons accompanying either the victim or the Church authority shall be subject to the agreement of the Facilitator. The Director of Professional Standards should not participate in the facilitation process.
3. The Facilitator shall seek to know the ongoing needs of the victim and the response of the Church authority to these needs.
4. The Facilitator shall also seek to know the needs of the victim's family and of the community in whose midst the abuse occurred.
5. The Facilitator shall seek to identify any outstanding issues where the victim is not satisfied with the response received and shall explore with both parties the best means of dealing with such issues.
6. Issues concerning reparation may either be dealt with in a facilitation, addressed through a compensation panel or dealt with through some other such process in order to reach a resolution on this aspect of the matter.
7. The Facilitator shall ensure that there is a record of any agreement reached and of any outstanding areas of disagreement.
8. The Director of Professional Standards shall be informed of the outcome, and whether the Facilitator considers that any other processes or actions would assist further in bringing the matter to a conclusion.
9. The Church authority shall bear all ordinary and reasonable expenses of the process of facilitation.
4. No complainant shall be required to give an undertaking which imposes upon them an obligation of silence concerning the circumstances which led them to make a complaint, as a condition of an agreement with the Church authority.
5. If the victim remains of the view that the response of the Church authority is unsatisfactory, the victim shall be informed about access to a review of process.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 10 Jul 2003