Definitions

(All information on the Charter, including a PDF copy, can be found on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Website- http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/charter.cfm)
 
The  Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (also known as the Dallas Charter) is a comprehensive set of procedures originally established by the USCCB in June 2002 for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The  Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. It was revised in 2005, 2011, and 2018. 
 
The  Charter directs action in all the following matters:

• Creating a safe environment for children and young people;
• Healing and reconciliation of victims and survivors;
• Making prompt and effective response to allegations;
• Cooperating with civil authorities;
• Disciplining offenders;
• Providing for means of accountability for the future to ensure the problem continues to be effectively dealt with through the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection and the National Review Board.

Refers to the local law enforcement agency, whether it be the city police department, the sheriff's department, the state police post or an area child protection agency. It is distinguished from religious authority.

A local board that functions as a confidential consultative body to the bishop/eparch. The board is to offer advice to the bishop/eparch in his assessment of allegations of sexual abuse of minors and in his determination of a cleric's suitability for ministry.  In this diocese, we prefer to enlist non-Catholic as well as Catholic members, both men and women. The makeup of this board over time includes law enforcement officers, social workers, lawyers, and sexual abuse/trauma counselors. Because all of these people are mandated reporters, allegations go to local police or child protective services before being discussed by this board.

a person under the age of eighteen.

There are different forms of abuse that a child may encounter. 

• Physical: Each State provides a definition of physical abuse. It is generally defined as "any non-accidental physical injury to a child," and can include:
  Punching, beating, kicking, burning, biting, shaking, throwing, slapping, inappropriate restraint, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), misuse of medications or other action that results in a physical injury (e.g. bruises, internal, fractures or death).
  • It is critical to note that these actions are considered abusive even if there is no intent to hurt a child.
• Neglect: While physical abuse tends to happen in specific instances or events, neglect tends to be more on going.  Neglect often leaves no visible scars and therefore is more likely than physical abuse to go undetected. Furthermore, children may grow up believing that their circumstances are a normal way of life and therefore do not seek assistance or confide information to anyone. 
  • Keep in mind that accepted standards of care and a community's culture may be contributing factors to neglect while indicating a need for information and/or assistance.  If a family ignores or fails to use information and resources, and a child's health or safety is at risk, then child welfare intervention may be required.
• Emotional: Emotional abuse may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance. This abuse may even include labeling a child with names such as stupid, idiot or dummy. Acts that reject, belittle or ignore children, terrorize them or isolate them from others can also be considered emotionally abusive.

• Sexual: Child sexual abuse, also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in sexual activities with a child, indecent exposure, child grooming, or using a child to produce child pornography.
  • Most children have no physical signs of sexual abuse. A child who indicates any of the following may be a victim of sexual abuse:
  • Difficulty in walking or sitting.
  • Complaints of genital or anal itching, pain, or bleeding.
  • Frequent psychosomatic (imaginary) illnesses.
  • Vomiting without apparent cause.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Sexually transmitted diseases.
  • In-depth sexual play with peers (different from the normal 'playing doctor' form of exploration).
  • Fear about sexuality (masculinity or femininity).
  • Sexually abused children keep the secret not only because the perpetrator may have threatened them, their families, or their pets, but also because they feel they are to blame for their involvement and fear that no one will believe them if they report the abuse.

Term used to refer to a wide assortment of practices that contribute to preventing child abuse of any kind.

“Substantiated” means that a report made pursuant to (the statute) was investigated and that credible evidence of the abuse exists.  This is not an indication of a criminal or civil finding of guilt or culpability.