THE MOVEMENT TO RESTORE TRUST

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MRT PROCESS RECOMMENDATIONS

Mission and Goals of The Movement to Restore Trust

The Movement to Restore Trust (MRT) was formed in October 20l8 by a group of independent,
concerned and committed Catholics to address the Diocese of Buffalo's handling of sex abuse cases
involving clergy, seek justice for survivors of sexual abuse and help the Church in Buffalo look forward,
implement meaningful reforms, and restore the faithful?s trust and confidence. See Movement to
Restore Trust mission statement, Our Mission.

The foundation of the MRT is based in its commitment to justice for victims of sexual abuse and to the
Vatican II ideal that the Church is not simply the clergy, it is not simply the hierarchy, and it is not just the
Vatican or the Chancery; the Church is the people of God. (See Movement to Restore Trust website,
Our Mission).

Our goal is to be a conduit for the voice of the Iaify to lead the Church in Buffalo to a new place, a
state of trust that has been restored and is marked by:

. A commitment to justice for the victims of sex abuse;

. A commitment to Co-Responsibility: the creation of a Church in which lay Catholics work hand
in hand with ordained Catholics, in an equal partnership;

. Complete transparency about past and current instances of sex abuse and a process for
dealing with those cases that will inspire trust and confidence;

. New transparent structures for bishop accountability;

Openness and transparency; a way of addressing leadership failure and replacing outdated
and secretive management practices based on a respect for the competency of the laity.l

The Movement to Restore Trust Process

The MRT Process commenced with a public symposium at the Montante Cultural Center at Canisius
College on Wednesday, November 28, 201 8. There were approximately 400 people in attendance with
another 1 TOO estimated to be watching or listening on line. It was followed by a workshop on Saturday,
December 8, 2018 at Science Hall at Canisius College, where several hundred people attended a
plenary session and work group meetings devoted to six specific areas of inquiry, which we had
developed in consultation with Leadership Roundtable:

 

These basic principles were apparent in the common themes that emerged in the Workgroups and
are also well aligned to what was shared and discussed at the Leadership Roundtable Catholic
Partnership Summit held February 1?2 in Washington DC and reported hei. Over 200 lay and ordained
Catholics attended, including several Cardinals and Bishops and demonstrated what co-responsibility
and a commitment to the ideals of Vatican II looks like.

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l. Transparency around the nature and scale of abuse in the Diocese and financial and spiritual
reparation for the victims;

Transparency about all diocesan operations:

Accountability for bishops;

Lay involvement in selecting and monitoring bishops;

Greater involvement by women/laity in the Church; and

Improvements in formation of priests and priestly life



Following the December 81h workshop, nearly 150 grassroots individuals, lay and clerical, volunteered to
participate in the work of the six groups. We estimate that they are backed by approximately 500 other
Catholics in the Diocese who have expressed interest in and support for our work. They have been
driven by their love for the Church but also by their anger and disappointment at how the sex abuse
crisis has been handled. Many Workgroups had participants who were themselves survivors of sex
abuse. These were courageous in their contributions and the sharing of their experiences and their
contributions are reflected in this executive summary. We also heard from many priests in the Diocese
who for various reasons could not participate in our work but who support the goals of the MRT and the
work of the laity. We sense a keen interest by the priests of the Diocese in our analysis and
recommendations.

Workgroup members traveled from all over WNY and joined virtually from across the country and
worked to research best practices and develop recommendations. Each of the six Workgroups met in-
person an average of 5-6 times between December 8 and February 6, 2019. They consulted subject
matter experts, studied foundational Catholic documents, and looked at best practices from across the
United States. Some Workgroups consulted canon lawyers as part of their work; in other cases, we
recognize that recommendations may go beyond what canon law currently provides. The work of the
MRT Workgroups, while certainly not exhaustive, is nonetheless impressive in its scope and its passion,
especially given the short time frame within which they worked. In all, the six workgroups produced over
50 pages of reports and draft recommendations.

Common Themes: Trust, Culture Change, Clericalism Reviving the Spirit
of Vatican It

Some common themes emerged from our work and are the basis for many of our recommendations.
There is enormous anger in the Diocese over the sex abuse crisis. The wounds that priestly sex abuse has
wrought are many: the broken lives of victims; indifference to their suffering on the part of fellow
members of the church; a dearth of accountability for priests and bishops involved or complicit in
abuse; a failure to reveal the full truth about abuses; and a deficit of genuine apology, penance and
reparation.2 The result has been a significant erosion of trust in the Catholic Church at large and in the
Church in the Diocese of Buffalo and the laity have a lack of confidence in the institutional Church and
its leaders. This has led to laity feeling disillusioned, frustrated and alienated. Throughout our meetings,
we heard again and again about the need for the Bishop to be committed to rebuilding trust. People

 

2 Daniel Philpott, ?Why the Catholic Church needs a Eucharistic response to the sex abuse scandals,"
America, 2/20/19; at 


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believe that trust can only exist where there is honesty, openness, transparency and a commitment to
authentic listening.

The MRT also believes that the process of restoring trust will require a metonoio of sorts when it comes to
the culture of the Church in Buffalo. The need for transformational culture change is part of every
workgroup?s recommendations. We recognize that the Bishop is not solely responsible for the culture
that exists; culture has developed over the decades and centuries and our hierarchy in Buffalo is a
product of that culture. But we also believe that the Bishop must be a leader in starting the process of
culture change.

But, being a leader of the process of change does not mean that the Bishop alone decides when and
how to move forward. We have determined that clericalism is at the root of many of the issues involving
the culture of the Church. At its root, clericalism is opposed to the teaching of the Church that the
spiritual shepherds of the Church are called to recognize and promote the dignity and responsibility of
the laity in the Church. Lumen Gentium, Chapter 4. Thus, central to our recommendations is our
conclusion that trust will only be restored when the Bishop demonstrates that he is committed to working
in active partnership with the laity on the matters identified in this report. The embrace and
implementation of the recommendations in our report will be an important step in breaking old habits
driven by clericalism.

Finally, and perhaps the most fundamental of our observations, the Diocese seems to have lost its way
in promoting the essential principles of Vatican II, especially as it relates to the role of laity in the Church.
We recommend a recommitment to Vatican II as an essential foundation of trust in the Diocese.

MRT Workgroup Foundational Recommendations

 

FOUNDATIONAL THEMES - CUTTING ACROSS WORKGROUPS:

Commit to a Partnership with the Laity to Restore Trust

Embrace the Opportunity to Act Voluntarily Now

Address the Needs of Survivors for Support Healing

Provide Complete Transparency into the Scale of the Abuse in Both Human and Financial Terms
Ensure the Faithful Are Central within the Organizational Structures of the Church

Voluntarily Delegate Greater Authority to the Consultative Bodies in the Diocese

Establish Accountability with Periodic Review of Implementation

Engage the Leadership Roundtable

Revive the Spirit of Vatican II



l. Commit to a Partnership with the Laity to Restore Trust. We think it is essential for the Bishop to
announce that he is committed to working in a genuine partnership with the laity and the clergy to
undertake the types of things identified in this report. This must be a new type of partnership, one in
which the laity is not merely represented but is consulted, heard and engaged as part of an
ongoing partnership. This, we believe, is the essence of Co-Responsibility. The MRT stands ready to
serve as one part of that partnership, but we also recognize that our lay movement remains at a
nascent stage. We need to work to expand this movement into every willing corner of the Diocese.

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2. Embrace the Opportunity to Act Voluntarily Now. The situation in the Diocese is such that the Bishop
should not wait for action by the Vatican or the USCCB. He should begin to act now, with us, and to
do things voluntarily. Bishops in other dioceses are reporting good results from doing things that
canon law permits them to do, even if it is not required. By starting now on these
recommendations, the Bishop is showing sincerity in addressing areas the MRT is advancing. In
tandem, if the Bishop were to address the spiritual component that would support the restoration of
trust, the Bishop can also serve as our shepherd.

3. Address the Needs of Survivors for Support and Healing. Focusing on a comprehensive and
integrated response to the wounds that priestly sex abuse has wrought through, among other
actions, true solidarity with victims and healing, reflects three specific Workgroup recommendations:
(1) that the Bishop provide for multiple avenues for victims to be heard through listening sessions
both in one on one sessions and in groups (see Archbishop Hebda December 20l8 letter on
survivor outreach); (2) that the DOB increase the care and support provided to victims through
pastoral care and a full spectrum of independent, trauma?informed counseling services, treatments
and therapies: and (3) through more sensitive and responsive victim intake.

4. Transparency. All Workgroups noted that the lack of transparency by the Diocese in the process of
addressing child and vulnerable adult sexual abuse has significantly eroded trust in the Diocese. The
Workgroups recommend complete ?nancial transparency, consistent with recognized best
practices, of all relevant financial components of the current sexual abuse scandal, and disclosure
of the depth and scale of the abuse itself in terms of both the victims and the perpetrators of the
abuse on the DOB website following the format utilized by the Archdiocese of Boston, while taking
care to address the due process rights of clergy.

5. Ensure the Faithful are Central within the Organizational Structures of the Church. We understand
that the existing organizational chart is a collection of Diocesan offices and institutions that operate
with the Bishop at the center. A better way of envisioning the type of diocese that would inspire
trust is one in which the faithful are at the center, the beneficiaries of all that the Diocese and the
Bishop does in his role as a servant leader.

6. Voluntarily Delegate Greater Authority to the Consultative Bodies in the Diocese. Multiple
Workgroups had significant concerns about the composition, charge and authority (or lack thereof)
in the Diocesan consultative body aligned most closely with their work. We recommend that the
role of consultative bodies in the Diocese be examined and that the Bishop commit to re?energizing
these bodies and more closely aligning them to their true purpose. As part of this, we feel these
committees should be filled with laity (especially women) and clergy with the expertise,
qualifications, independence and autonomy to properly discharge its duties. These
recommendations align with Leadership Roundtable?s conclusion that that these bodies consist of
?experts with teeth.?

7. Establish Accountability with Periodic Review of Implementation. As part of the implementation of
these recommendations, we strongly believe that it would be important for the Diocese to work with
us to develop a process that will ensure accountability. We envision a process in which the Diocese
would prepare a self-study on its success/failure of implementation of these recommendations and
entertain an outside review by a team recommended by MRT comprised of lay people in the
Diocese with expertise, who would be charged with issuing a public report of their findings.

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8. Engagement of the Leadership Roundtable. The Diocese and MRT should engage Leadership
Roundtable as national experts with The competence needed for working with The Diocese on the
crisis. We believe This is also an opportunity for The Diocese To demonstrate leadership at The
na?onaHeveL

9. Revive the Spirit of Vatican II. A recommiTmenT by The Diocese To a process of renewal on The
essential Teachings of Vatican II That would encompass education and programming Throughout
the Diocese (of the Seminary, within parishes and by the Diocesan Central office) is an essential part
of restoring trust. This recommiTmenT To the Teachings of Vatican II must also be reflected in the
organizational structures of our Diocese where there is greater empowerment of and meaningful
participation by laity. This effort goes ?above, beyond and outside" the current sex abuse crisis and
may be a way to have the Bishop work with The MRT to commit to a process of renewal that could
go a long way toward restoring Trust.

Specific Workgroup Recommendations

Each Workgroup also had recommendations specific to their area of focus. The MRT Organizing
Committee is still reviewing These recommendations and working with the Workgroups to finalize their
reports.

Conclusion Next Steps

This executive summary and our first meeting with Bishop Malone is the start of what we hope will be a
series of conversations with The Bishop about how we can work together in a constructive partnership To
move forward. This executive summary represents our first attempt to and reconcile the results
of six different reports. The MRT Organizing Committee is continuing its work on finalizing the Workgroup
reports and would welcome preliminary feedback from Bishop Malone on priorities for implementation.

We believe That it is imperative that meaningful, Tangible, visible and public action within 30 days is
critical to The journey to restore Trust. The faithful of The Diocese are waiting for This report and for The
response of the Bishop. They expect MRT to remain visible and active in the weeks and months ahead.

We Think That a follow?up meeting with Bishop Malone prior To March 9 would be optimal as we are
scheduling a public meeting of The MRT Workgroups on That day to share The results of the Workgroups.
It would be ideal to be able To also report the Bishop?s preliminary responses To our work.

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THE MOVEMENT TO RESTORE TRUST: SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY WORKGROUP

Introductio_n

[Each of the six Workgroups oF the Movement to Restore Trust met in?person an

average oF 5?6 times between December 8 and l?ebruary 201?). They consulted subject matter

experts, studied Foundational Catholic documents, and looked at best practices From across the 

United States. Some Workgroups consulted canon lawyers as part oF their Work; in other cases,

we recognize that recommendations may go beyond what canon law currently provides. In all, the
six workgroups produced over 50 pages oF reports and draFt recommendations.

areas oFoverlap and some conflicting or duplicative recommendatitins need to be reconciled.

This document summarizes the rec<immendations by Workgroup. There were some

This work is ongoing. By way oF general observations, we would note the Following:

1.

Several oF the groups recommended new oversight bodies or committees. The
Organizing Committee has recommended as a Foundational Recommendation that the
Bishop look at all consultative bodies to determine iF they have an ongoing purpose,
whether their charge should be clari?ed, and whether they ought to be given more
responsibility. This would address some oF the issues relating to consultative bodies
but more work needs to be done to reconcile all oF the recommendations in this area.

Related to no. 1, some oF the groups made recommendations with respect to the 

Diocesan Review Board, which is mandated by the Dallas Charter. The )rganizing
Committee believes that before We can endorse a specific rec<immendation in this area,
we need to study Further exactly how the DRB is operating in the Diocese and how its
operation could be improved.

Multiple groups recommended various methods (con?dential, independent third
parties, hotlines, liAl?~style processes, Fraud reporting systems) oF reporting oF

concerns, by laity and by seminarians, oF abuse and other acts oF concern as well as 

complaints oF misconduct by the Bishop.

There were several recommendations regarding oversight oF the Bishop and the
Diocese to ensure that we remain on track in implementing the reForm
remimmendations. The Organizing Committee is recommending a periodic review oF
the Diocese?s implementation oF the MRT recommendations by a review team
appointed by the The ()rganizing Committee is also recommending a periodic
evaluation oF the Bishop?s perFormance, akin to a Mal-evaluation.

As the time Frame For the completion oF these reports was quite short, there are areas in
our reports that require Further study or input From people with direct knowledge.
Similarly, some recommendations may need to be reconsidered in light oF the new
Child Victims Act and the Fact that the Diocese will be Facing a number of lawsuits in

which discovery will be mandated. 

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Group 1 ?Transparency Around the Nature and Scale of the Abuse in the Diocese
and Financial and Spiritual Reparations for Victims/Survivors

Full Disclosure of the Depth of Abuse

We recommend the use and Format oF a website like that of the Diocese oF Boston - 
Categories oF Archdiocesan Clergy Accused oFChild Sexual Abuse to report the names of
priests with allegations against them. ()ur Full report contains recommendatitms on the
Format and Fields to be used.

Ensure the competency, autonomy independence of the DRB 

We recommend that the composition and deliberation process oF the DRB be reviewed to
ensure it is adequately autonomous and independent and not controlled solely by the risk
management and litigation process.

Review, clarify and communicate the various due process standards applied to
investigations and improvement of the complaint and investigative process

()ur Full report contains Four pages of recommendations which we Find to contain best
practices rrounded in comparisons oF the policies and practices to those From the
dioceses oF several other cities (Albany, Boston, Charleston, Cincinnati etc.)

Signi?cantly improve and increase the support provided to victims

Victims should: (I) be provided a list oF independent, accredited irauma- .
in?amed/speci?c counselors and/or an independent hotline to take their reports of abuse;
(2) have a victim advocate to guide them throughout the entire process (4) have access to a
Full spectrum oFtreatments and support services/therapies paid For by the and
provide by independent, accredited and trauma?specific counselors; (5)
receive legal support From an Assigned Counsel program Funded by the Diocese.

Prevention, Training Education

We recommend establishing a Of?ce For Pastoral Support and Outreach and a
Clinical Consultation Board to support this oFFice. We recommended lead locally
with best-practice, ?evidence?inFormed" child abuse prevention training. ()ther -
recommendations: (1) improved training on trauma-informed care and power dynamics;
(2) outreach to priests/seminarians; (3) expansion oF?vulnerable adult? definition in the
Code oFConduct; (4) DUB voluntarily adopt Federal NYS-compliant sexual harassment
policies. 
Creation of ?Guardians of Trust? to monitor compliance with Diocesan policies
addressing the abuse, investigations and reparations for victims .
The (iuardians oFTrust would serve as the guardians oF the public good, the good of the
Church, and the general good oF the community and would report back to the laity in the
Diocese.

Work to Effectively Efficiently Resolve new cases under the Child Victim?s Act -
With the enactment oF the CVA into law in New York State, We urge the Diocese to
aggressively work to resolve cases as soon as possible and commit to working eFFectively
and eFFiciently with victims and their legal counsel.

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THE MOVEMENT TO RESTORE TRUST: SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY WORKGROUP Trust

Group 2 ?Transparency about all diocesan operations

A. Governance Structure acknowledging the importance of the faithful as participants and
primary recipients
We are recommending that the Diocese create a governance structure, consistent with (Ianon

Law and best practice that recognizes the faithful as the ultimate source of all funds and

beneficiary of all the services of the diocese.

B. Provide complete ?nancial transparency, consistent with recognized best practices, of
all relevant financial components of the handling of sexual abuse cases
This includes (1) detailed information about quanti?able costs, sources of funds, past and
future, and the financial impact of n<tit?quantifiable costs; (2) complete ?nancial accounting of
previous sexual abuse claims, including all costs and all sources of these funds; and (3) financial
estimates frotn potential future sexual abuse claims. The full report contains an Attachment 
which details the content of the financial disclosure.

(1. Diocesan Financial Transparency
Institute recognized best practices regarding all financial matters within the Diocese to insure
appropriate transparency for the faithful of the Buffalo Diocese. The report contains 2.5 pages

of specifics.

Empower and Expand the Oversight of the Financial Council
We recommend that the diocesan l?inance (Iouncil be empowered to assume the expanded
responsibilities that are specifically addressed in sections 492, 493 and 1277 of(Ianon Law. The
effect of this would he to raise the current level of oversight from a largely advisory function to
a more consultative and consensual role. The majority and the chair should he lay persons.

Ii. Institute Best Practices Regarding Parish Financial Matters
Our recommendations here included training, process, reporting and communication so that
parish financial information is able to answer the basic question of what happens to every dollar
collected at the parish.

Group 3 - Accountability for Bishops

A. Bishop commits to sharing responsibility for the health and holiness of the Diocese with
clergy and laity1
While recognizing that sotne sharing of responsibility, especially what is required by (Ianon Law,
is already in place, the group strongly recommended that the Bishop give all consultative
bodies actual authority to make decisions and ensure they are fully informed with relevant data
to do so. Further, whenever the Bishop does not implement a recommendation of a
consultative body, he will provide that body a written explanation of his rationale. Additional
recommendations included implementing term limits for each of the consultative bodies and
using vacancies to create diverse teams (with tnembers representing the makeup of the
Diocese).

 

B.

Establish performance expectations and goals for the Bishop which will be regularly

reviewed by the Faithful

\Ve recommend that a consultant body should he used to assist the Bishop in articulating his
responsibilities with time bound goals which will he published on the diocesan website, along
with progress toward goals and corrective action.

Apply sound organizational practices to all key processes in the Diocese

The Bishop should immediately engage Leadership Roundtahle and commit to leading the
necessary culture change to move our Diocese forward and to working with Leadership
Roundtahle to put in place a mechanism to regularly assess progress against the commitments
made in concert with the Movement to Restore ?l'rust. Priests must he provided a mechanism to
have a voice and be heard.

Ensure laity access to and regular interchange with the Bishop

The periodic report to the Pope by the Bishop is art opportunity for this access and regular
interchange and input from the faithful. ?Real time? information about what is happening in
the Diocese as well as progress against defined metrics is consistently sltared with the Faithful.
'l'he laity and clergy should hav - access to the Bishop through transparent mechanisms for
regular communication.

Group 4 - Lay involvement in selecting and monitoring bishops

A.

Input from the laity on Diocesan Leadership

Input from all the faithful, befor - :1 Bishop is assigned to a particular diocese should he
reinstituted to enable a better matching of shepherd to the needs of the diocese?s clergy and
laity. I

Process of Nomination of Priests for consideration of Ordination to Bishop
The institution of a consultative process for nominating priest names by clergy and laity Would
create another resource to be considered by the Pope.

Bishop Tenure

The adoption of tenure requirements would strengthen the role of the laity in addressing the
corporal needs of the faithful, continue to create a transparent environment and allow the
Bishop and clergy of the diocese to focus on their role as shepherds.

Evaluation Review of Bishop Performance

listablishment of a process of independent evaluation and rect)mmendations to provide
feedback to the Bishop and to the diocesan faithful of the ?state of the diocese? would bring
additional transparency and affirmation on the ?performance? of the diocese under the control
of the Bishop.

N.B. Other groups had rec<)mmendations similar in foundation (see Ll", 2.li, 4.B, The prominence of the appearance of this theme, given the fact that the groups worked independently ofone another) was

notable.

Group 2 ?Transparency about all diocesan operations B.

A.

Governance Structur acknowledging the importance of the faithful as participants and

primary recipients

We are recommending that the Diocese create a governance structure. consistent with (Ianon

law and best practice that recognizes the faithful as the ultimate source of all funds and

bene?ciary ofall the services of the diocese. (I.

Provide complete ?nancial transparency, consistent with recognized best practices, of

all relevant ?nancial components of the handling of sexual abuse cases

This includes (1) detailed information about quanti?able costs, sources of funds. past and

future, and the ?nancial impact of nonquanti?able Costs; (2) complete ?nancial accounting of

previous sexual abuse claims, including all costs and all sources of these funds; and (3) ?nancial

estimates from potential future sexual abuse claims. The full report contains an Attachment 
which details the content of the ?nancial disclosure.

Diocesan Financial Transparency

Institute recognized best practices regarding all ?nancial matters within the Diocese to insure
appropriate transparency for the faithful of the Buffalo DioCese. The report contains 2.5 pages
of specifics.

Empower and Expand the Oversight of the Financial Council

We recommend that the diocesan Finance (Iouneil be empowered to assume the expanded
responsibilities that are speci?cally addressed in sections 492, 403 and l277 ofCanon Law. The
effect of this would be to raise the current level ofoversight from a largely advisory function to
a more consultative and consensual role.

A.

The majority and the chair should he lay persons.

Institute Best Practices Regarding Parish Financial Matters 
Our recommendatitms here included training, process. reporting and ctimmunication so that 
parish ?nancial information is able to answer the basic question of what happens to every dollar

collected at the parish.

Group 3 - Accountability for Bishops



Bishop commits to sharing responsibility for the *alth and holiness of the Diocese with

clergy and laity'

\Vhile recognizing that some sharing of responsibility, especially what is required by (Ianon Law, I),
is already in place, the group strongly recommended that the Bishop give all consultative

bodies actual authority to make decisions and ensure they are fully informed with relevant data

to do so. Further" whenever the Bishop does not implement a recommendation ofa

consultative body. he will provide that body a written explanation of his rationale. Additional
recommendations included implementing term limits for each of the consultative bodies and

using vacancies to create diverse teams (with members representing the makeup of the

DioCese).

 

Other groups had rect)mmendations similar in foundation (sec 

notable.

Establish performance expectations and goals for the Bishop which will be regularly
reviewed by the Faithful . . .
We recommend that a consultant body should be used to assist the Bishop in articulating his
responsibilities with time bound goals which will be published on the diocesan \vebstte. along
with progress toward goals and corrective action.

Apply sound organizational practices to all key processes in the Diocese .

The Bishop should immediately engage Leadership Roundtable and commit to leading the
necessary culture change to move our Diocese forward and to working with Leadership
Roundtable to put in pIaCe a mechanism to regularly assess progress against the commitments
made in concert with the Movement to Restore 'l'rust. Priests must be provided a mechanism to

have a voice and be heard.

Ensure laity access to and regular interchange with the Bishop .

The periodic report to the Pope by the Bishop is an opportunity tor this access and regular.
interchange and input from the faithful. ?Real time" information about what is happening in
the Diocese as well as progress against de?ned metrics is consistently shared With the latthtul.
'l?he laity and clergy should have access to the Bishop through transparent mechanisms for

regular communicatitin.

Group 4 - Lay involvement in selecting and monitoring bishops

Input from the laity on Diocesan ?adership
Input from all the laithful, before :1 Bishop is assigned to a particular diocese should be
reinstituted to enable a better matching of shepherd to the needs ol the diocese clergy and

laity.

Process of Nomination of Priests for consideration of Ordination to Bishop .
The institution of a consultative process for nominating priest names by clergy and laity would

create another resource to be Considered by the Pope.

Bishop Tenure . . 
The adoption of tenure requirements would strengthen the role of the laity in addressing it
corporal needs of the faithful. continue to create a transparent environment and allow the
Bishop and clergy of the dioCese to focus on their role as shepherds.

Evaluation/Review of Bishop Performance . 
listablishment of a process of independent evaluation and recommendations to?provtde .
lcedback to the Bishop and to the dioCesan faithful of the ?state of ll?lL?tllUCcSL? would bring
additional transparency and af?rmation on the ?perfi)rmance" ol the diocese under the control
of the Bishop.

. .. .- - 
1D). lhe prominence of the appearance ot this theme. given the tart that the groups worked indept ndently ot one in 

THE MOVEMENT TO RESTORE TRUST: SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY WORKGROUP

E.

Establishment of an independent process of reporting misconduct or impairment
'l?he recommendatit>ns contain references to voluntary processes for reporting already put in
place in the Dioceses ofChicago and Jefferson (Iity and strongly recommend that the 
institute something similar.

In addition, Workgroup 4 notes that there are problems with the Bishop?s lack of actual
accountability to the recommendations of Diocesan Consultative Bodies and the lack of
an ?appeal? process for any of these bodies.

Group 5 - Greater involvement by women/laity in the Church

A.

Renewal of Vatican II Theology and Ministry throughout the Diocese

We recommend that the Diocese initiate an education process flowing from Vatican ll for
parishes, organizations and the Seminary to renew the People of(}od (both laity and clergy) and
enhance the understanding and appreciation ofour common call to holiness and the
complementary roles ofclergy and laity in the life of the (Ihurch.

Increased Roles for Women

limpower more lay women to prepare for and take on lay l?lcclesial Ministries and invite
quali?ed women to have active roles in leadership and decision-making, both at the diocesan
and parish levels. Support the restoration ofthe Permanent Diaconate for Women in the
Church, should the US Bishops Synod initiate this restoration.

Support for Inclusive Parish Life

The Diocese must provide a process for direct communication between parishioners and
bishop, with a goal to have the key stakeholders in each parish collaborate with the bishop for
the purpose of assessing and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiencies of ministries, thus
creating an outcomes?based and inclusive foundation for decision making.

Shared Governance
The Diocese should consider a new shared governance model for parishes and the diocesan
central administration.

Group 6 - Improvements information of priests and priestly life

A.

B.

An added focus on the ?human? pillar within seminary formation

We recommend several ways in which the Seminary could increase its focus on the lutnan
pillar in the formation process. We also think that the Diocese should consider relocation of
the seminary to an urban setting, perhaps to a college campus.

Transparency and accountability in services
We recommend several enhancements in providing services in the formation
process.

Continued formation and accountability for our current and future priests

Require priests to participate in continuing education and be accountable for having done so;
identify competent and con?dential resources to assist clergy in self?care, and
emotional health and general well?being; further enhancement of the program that trains for

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homiletics; focus on a leadership model which recognizes that he who Would be first must be

the last and the ser 'ant of all.

Integration of priests into parish and family life as well as safeguards against isolation
and the establishment of unhealthy ways of relating

We recommend: (1) a more communal model ofliving for priests; (2) providing additional
resources for parishes to manage the ?business" of the church so that priest's may focus their
time primarily on their gifts, inulti-dimensional business, organizational, human, spiritual, and
pastoral tasks of parishes, with full participation of women; (3) that parish communities make
deliberate efforts to integrate a priest into the church community through socializing, and
invitations into homes amid families.