The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston encourages reporting to civil authorities first and foremost if a crime has been committed. We also encourage utilizing www.reportbishopabuse.org to report. If you have reason to believe that a bishop has engaged in sexual misconduct or has interfered with an investigation into sexual misconduct, please contact civil authorities in the applicable jurisdiction and visit www.reportbishopabuse.org.
Safe Environment, Office Of
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003, United States
The Office of Safe Environment is responsible for outreach and compliance for the Safe Environment process for all employees and volunteers in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. The Safe Environment process was mandated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2002 for all dioceses in the United States. The Safe Environment protocol involves continuing sex abuse awareness training, background checks, and policy acknowledgements for employees and volunteers, as well as a training program for minors.
The Office of Safe Environment also documents and responds to disclosures of sex abuse and other behavioral concerns by employees and volunteers throughout the diocese. Safe Environment documents and analyzes patterns stemming from concerns in an effort to be preventive and proactive. Safe Environment can advise on best practices for parish and school operations for keeping minors, employees, and volunteers safe. Parishes and schools throughout the diocese are regularly audited by the USCCB for compliance with the Safe Environment protocol, and the Office of Safe Environment is instrumental in helping to assure compliance and preparedness.