Reporting Procedures for Suspected Child Abuse

As stated in KRS 620.030, “Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child is dependent, neglected or abused shall immediately cause an oral or written report to be made to a local law enforcement agency, the Kentucky state police, the cabinet or its designated representative, or the Commonwealth’s attorney by telephone or otherwise.”

This reporting requirement includes all clergy, employees and volunteers. (See below for a list of agencies and phone numbers for each county.) When the accusation involves church personnel, such a report also must be forwarded to the Chancellor of the Archdiocese.

Persons making a report should provide the following information:

1. The names and addresses of the child and his or her parents or other persons who have custodial responsibility for the child.
2. The child’s age.
3. The nature and extent of the child’s suspected dependency, neglect or abuse, including any previous charges of dependency, neglect or abuse, if known.
4. The name and address of the person who is allegedly responsible for the abuse or neglect, and
5. Any other information that will be helpful to the child abuse investigator.

No internal investigation shall be initiated before this report is made to the authorities and to the Chancellor. Failure to report suspected child abuse to the civil authorities is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by law and is grounds for the termination of employment and/or the termination of a volunteer relationship with a diocesan entity. The only exceptions to this requirement involve information learned within the Sacrament of Reconciliation or within an attorney-client relationship. [KRS 620.050(3)]

Reporting Procedures When Adults Come Forward About Abuse Experienced During Childhood

Information from adults who are reporting cases of sexual abuse when they were children should be immediately forwarded to the Chancellor. While the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky do not require the reporting of instances where adults come forward about their own childhood sexual abuse, it will be the policy of the Archdiocese of Louisville to report all such cases to the police. The Archdiocese may consider an exception to this policy if serious reasons not to do so are brought forward by the victim/survivor, though possible danger to other victims has to be weighed against the victim/survivor’s request for privacy. In all cases, the Archdiocese will provide adult accusers with information about how to make their own report to the police, if they have not already done so, and will encourage them to make a report.

The Archdiocese of Louisville Sexual Abuse Review Board will be advised of all accusations of childhood sexual abuse that are reported to the Archdiocese.

Sexual Abuse Reporting Contacts

Following is a list of agencies that take child abuse reports in each county of the Archdiocese. The Protection and Permanency Agency is part of the Community-Based Services Department of the Cabinet for Families and Children.

Please note that the statewide child abuse hotline is 1-800-752-6200. Individuals who need to report child abuse can also call their local police.

COUNTY	PHONE NUMBERS	AGENCY
Adair	(270) 384-4731	Protection and Permanency
Barren	(270) 651-8396	Protection and Permanency
Bullitt                   or	(502) 955-6591 (502) 543-7051	Child Protective Services
Casey	(606) 787-8369	Protection and Permanency
Clinton	(606) 387-6655	Protection and Permanency
Cumberland	(270) 864-3834	Protection and Permanency
Green	(270) 932-7484	Community Based Services
Hardin	(270) 766-5099	Protection and Permanency
Hart	(270) 524-7111	Protection and Permanency
Henry	(502) 845-2922	Henry Co. Social Services
Jefferson                   or	(502) 595-4550 (502) 574-2465	Child Protective Services Crimes Against Children
Larue	(270) 358-4175	Protection and Permanency
Marian	(270) 692-3135	Protection and Permanency
Meade	(270) 422-3942	Protection and Permanency
Metcalfe	(270) 432-2721	Protection and Permanency
Monroe	(270) 487-6701	Protection and Permanency
Nelson	(502) 348-9048	Protection and Permanency
Oldham	(502) 222-9472	Protection and Permanency
Russell	(270) 343-3512	Protection and Permanency
Shelby	(502) 633-3530	Protection and Permanency
Spencer                   or	(502) 477-8807 (502) 477-8808	Protection and Permanency
Taylor	(270) 465-3549	Protection and Permanency
Trimble	(502) 255-3236	Protection and Permanency
Washington	(859) 336-9395	Protection and Permanency

 

Reporting Sexual Misconduct

Procedures Concerning Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct is inappropriate adult behavior by Church personnel related to Church employment or ministry. Two categories of behavior are included: 1) sexual exploitation (sexual contact between Church personnel and an adult who is receiving counseling or other ministerial care from that priest, deacon, employee, seminarian, religious or volunteer) and 2) sexual harassment. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment occurs whenever a hostile environment is created through humor, vulgar comments, sexually suggestive cartoons, e-mail messages, or posters, as well as actual physical abuse.

The Archdiocese prohibits any form of sexual misconduct. This prohibition applies to all employees and volunteers, including clergy, religious, seminarians and lay persons.

Reporting Procedures

If criminal behavior (e.g. rape, attempted rape, assault, stalking) is involved, the behavior should be immediately reported to the police and to the Chancellor. If in doubt about whether behavior is criminal, call the police.

Those adults who believe they have been sexually exploited or harassed, or anyone else who becomes aware of the possibility of sexual misconduct related to Church personnel in Church employment or ministry, must report this information to the alleged offender’s immediate supervisor and to the Chancellor of the Archdiocese. If the accused is a pastor, the information should be reported to the Archbishop or his delegate.

For employment-related harassment, please see the Archdiocese of Louisville Personnel Policies.