Review Board
The Most Rev. Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B., archbishop of Indianapolis, announced
today the creation of a six-member archdiocesan review board that will assist
him in carrying out the provisions of the “Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People” adopted by the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops last June in Dallas. The charter establishes protocols for
dealing with the sexual abuse of minors by Church personnel.
Appointed to the new board by the archbishop are:
- John M. (Jack) Whelan, president and chief executive officer of Golden
Rule Insurance Company and a long-time civic leader, whom the archbishop appointed
as chair of the review board.
- Ann M. DeLaney, executive director of the Julian Center, a shelter
for battered women and children in Indianapolis. DeLaney is a former Marion
County (Ind.) Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and head of the felony sex offense
and child abuse unit.
- The Reverend Paul D. Etienne [A-chen], pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help Parish in New Albany, Ind., who was ordained in 1992 and completed graduate
studies in Rome in 1995.
- Cathleen Graham, M.S.W., executive director of the Indiana Association
of Residential Child Care Agencies. Graham is a licensed clinical social worker
and is the former head of child protective services for the state of Indiana.
- Richard K. Grana, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in full-time
practice in Indianapolis. Grana counsels adolescents, adults, and children,
including abused children.
- Michael H. Zunk, director of security for the Indianapolis Colts and
former chief of police of the Indianapolis Police Department.
In making the appointments, Archbishop Buechlein said: “I am pleased
that such a distinguished group of competent professionals has stepped forward
to put their considerable talents at the service of the Church and the greater
community. These individuals bring to the table a variety of perspectives. As
a group, they possess a high degree of expertise in the area of the sexual abuse
of minors.
“I rely on the wisdom and counsel of various groups of advisors in carrying
out my ministry in the Church,” the archbishop said. “It will be
no different with this board. I appreciate their willingness to take on such
a challenge, and I look forward to working with them.”
In a related move, the archbishop also appointed Suzanne L. Yakimchick, chancellor
of the archdiocese, to the position of assistance coordinator as called for
in the U.S. bishops’ charter. The assistance coordinator arranges for
the immediate pastoral care of persons who report that they have been sexually
abused as minors by Church personnel. This position continues the function that
Yakimchick has carried out since the early 1990s when Archbishop Buechlein appointed
her to receive information of sexual abuse by Church personnel and to reach
out to victims with the pastoral concern of the Church. Yakimchick will also continue
to head the archdiocese’s Investigative Resource Team, which investigates
allegations of sexual abuse by Church personnel. It will now serve as a resource
to the new board.
Yakimchick said, “I am confident that our new review board will help the
Church do a better job in protecting minors. We are grateful for the wisdom
they will bring to this critical area. These six people will give the Church
additional expertise to help us continue to evaluate complaints of sexual misconduct
in a fair and just manner.”
According to Archbishop Buechlein, the new board will be charged with familiarizing
itself with the bishops’ charter; adjusting, where necessary, current
archdiocesan policies to bring them in line with the charter; developing internal
procedures for the board’s operation; and reviewing both past and current
cases of sexual abuse.