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.

 

 

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