Commentary
Any regular volunteer who has cause to suspect an act of child abuse or neglect has occurred or receives a report of such an act, must report the incident.
Under normal circumstances, one phone call will fulfill the responsibility of a pastoral caregiver of the responsibilities of acquiring the necessary professional assistance. Use the numbers below to call Catholic Charities to obtain help for a young person in crisis.
Victim’s Assistance Coordinator and Director of Behavioral Health:
302-656-0651
Clinical Supervisor, Catholic Charities:
Wilmington – 302-656-0651
Dover – 302-674-1600
Georgetown – 302-865-9578
Salisbury – 410-749-1121
As persons who are often in contact with children, pastoral caregivers have a particularly crucial responsibility to be aware of the law and to be alert to real or potential problems. In Delaware, the report is to be filed with the Division of Family Services; in Maryland, to the appropriate county office or law enforcement agency. The initial report may be made by telephone or in person. The law further provides that persons making such reports in good faith shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, which might otherwise be incurred or imposed with respect to making such a report.
Delaware: Division of Family Services Hotline # 1-800-292-9582
Maryland: Department of Social Services in the Maryland county where allegedly abused child lives or, if different, the Maryland County where the abuse is alleged to have occurred. For the phone number, visit www.dhr.state.md.us/cps/address.htm
If the individual suspects an act of sexual abuse of a child, receives a report of such an act by a cleric, employee or volunteer of the diocese they should immediately call:
Delaware: State Attorney General’s Office: 302-577-8310 and ask to speak to someone in the Sex Crimes Unit.
Maryland: The call should be placed to the County State’s Attorney’s Office in which the alleged crime occurred.
Failure to report makes one liable to a fine (not more than $1000) or imprisonment (not more than 15 days). The law also states that only the attorney/client privilege exempts reporting. Parish employees and volunteers must comply with the reporting statute.
Reporting to the Diocese of Wilmington
To report suspected sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or deacon, present or in the past, call: Rev. Msgr. J. Thomas Cini, VG, 302-573-3118. Send written allegations to Rev. Msgr. J. Thomas Cini, VG, Diocese of Wilmington, P.O. Box 2030, Wilmington, DE 19899-2030.
Any doubts concerning serious suspicions about child abuse are to be resolved in the child’s favor and are to be reported. The report should be submitted as soon as possible.
In the State of Delaware, Coordinators of Youth Ministry are not specifically named as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect.
The Diocese of Wilmington deems it a moral responsibility to report all instances of suspected child Abuse to the Department of Human Resources. Reportable conditions include physical abuse, sexual abuse, child exploitation, child pornography and child prostitution, neglect, extreme corporal punishment resulting in injury, and willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment. Coordinators of Youth Ministry and their adult volunteers need to be thoroughly familiar with the Delaware Child Abuse Reporting Law.
Reporting Illegal or Immoral Behavior
If in the course of ministry, an adult leader (coach, catechist, youth minister, etc.) is made aware of a young person’s behavior that is illegal or immoral, that adult leader is morally, and in some cases, legally, bound to report such behaviors to the proper authorities.
Parents should be notified and the adult leader’s supervisor, including the pastor, should be made aware of the report.
Adult leaders in ministry are encouraged to document any reports and conversations in writing and submit a copy to the appropriate supervisor.
Adult leaders in ministry are not to investigate suspected illegal or immoral behavior. Any investigation is to be left to the proper authorities.