Commitment to Accountability and Transparency
We believe in keeping true to our principles and strive to keep our actions accountable and transparent.
Annual National Audit
- We undergo an annual national audit to ensure full compliance across the Diocese with the articles of protection outlined in the national Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms and Statement of Episcopal Commitment. We have successfully passed this audit every year since its inception in 2002.
Listening Sessions
- Bishops Patrick J. McGrath and Oscar Cantú conducted a series of listening sessions in 2018, facilitated by Rosemary Ellmer, M.Div., Ph.D., to hear from those who were victimized as children by clerical sexual abuse, either directly or in their families, and to seek input from people in the pews on the pathway to reform and healing actions. In all, approximately 300 people attended
Clergy File Review
- In the fall and winter of 2018, the Kinsale Management Group, headed by former FBI executive and sex crimes detective Kathleen McChesney and comprised of former state and federal investigators and criminal profilers, conducted a comprehensive review of the personnel files of all priests, deacons, and seminarians, living or dead, who were known to have conducted any kind of ministry in the Diocese of San José.
Read the Kinsale Group’s Summary of Work in English, Spanish, or Vietnamese.
Clergy Disclosure List
- On October 18, 2018, we disclosed the names of clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse with children within the Diocese of San Jose. Additions to the list were published on April 5, 2019, which came as a result of the independent review by the Kinsale Group and the Jesuit West disclosure list. Our disclosure list currently includes:
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- All clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse of children occurring within the Diocese of San Jose, who were assigned to a parish or diocesan ministry in Santa Clara County by the Bishop of San Jose or, in the years before our founding in 1981, by the Archbishop of San Francisco.
- All non-Diocesan clergy, whoever ministered within the Diocese of San Jose’s territory (Santa Clara County) and received a credible allegation of sexual abuse of children, which occurred elsewhere or in a non-Diocesan institution or ministry in Santa Clara County. These allegations were not investigated by the Diocese of San Jose but have been confirmed by the cleric’s Religious Order, Arch/diocese, or civil authorities.
- All non-Diocesan clergy who have ever resided at a seminary, religious retirement home or other institution operated by a religious community within Santa Clara County and have received a credible allegation of sexual abuse of children that occurred elsewhere. These allegations were not investigated by the Diocese of San Jose but have been confirmed by the cleric’s religious order, arch/diocese, or civil authorities.
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- In early December 2019, the Diocese, along with five other dioceses in California, received an administrative subpoena from the California Attorney General’s office requsting documents related to the mandatory reporting of allegations of sexual misconduct with minors by clergy and laypersons within the Diocese from 1996 to the present. The Diocese will continue to cooperate with the Attorney General while protecting the privacy rights of victims/survivors and complying with state and federal labor laws regarding personnel files and volunteer records.
Read the Disclosure List in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
View Bishop Cantú’s introduction to the Disclosure List in English and Spanish.
Read more about the Disclosure List in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Independent Diocesan Review Board
- Since 2002, an Independent Diocesan Review Board, a confidential consultative body to the Bishop, has assessed allegations of sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults by priests, deacons, and other church personnel to advise the Bishop on whether the allegations appear to be credible; and offers advice on all matters of sexual abuse cases. The board also reviews and makes recommendations on the Diocesan Safe Environment Policy; and offers advice on all matters of sexual abuse cases.
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- The board includes six lay professionals, not employed by the Diocese, from the legal, law enforcement and medical science communities, and a member of the clergy.
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- We are committed to continuing our cooperation with law enforcement in their investigations of abuse.
Read more on how the Diocese works to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Read more on how the Diocese works to bring about healing and reconciliation.
To report abuse or suspected abuse, first call law enforcement; and second, contact the Diocese toll-free at (844) 372-1691, or to our third-party reporting site, https://opcva.ethicspoint.com.