How to Report Suspected Cases of Sexual Abuse of Children

To Civil Authorities:

Contact your local law enforcement; numbers will vary based on your location.
If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Or

To confidentially report any incidence of suspected child abuse or neglect, including sexual abuse, contact the West Virginia Bureau for Children and Families’ Child Protective Services by calling the Child Abuse Hotline at 800-352-6513.

To Report Abuse by a Bishop of the Catholic Church:

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.  

To the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston:

The Diocese encourages reporting to the appropriate civil authorities first and foremost as well as to the appropriate church authorities. To report suspected cases of sexual abuse of children by clergy, religious or lay personnel of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston to the Diocese, please contact one of the Bishop’s designees at 1-888-434-6237. The proper extensions are listed below.

  • Mr. Bryan Minor, ext. 263
  • Mr. Tim Bishop, ext. 353
  • Very Rev. Dennis R. Schuelkens Jr., V.E., ext. 270
  • Sr. Martha Gomez, ext. 264 (English and Spanish)

Or, please call:

  • The Office of Safe Environment: 304.230.1504

You may also fill out a confidential “Complaint Form for Allegations of Sexual Abuse of a Minor” by picking one up at your local parish or requesting one in the mail from Safe Environment Coordinator, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, P.O. Box 230, Wheeling, WV 26003. The Complaint Form also is available for download on this web site by clicking on the “Download Files and Forms” section. It is listed as “Complaint Form.”

To report to the Diocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator:

  • Erin McFarland, M.Ed., LPC: 304.559.6742

Links and information:

WV DHHR Bureau for Children and Families

WV DHHR County Locator

West Virginia State Police, Crimes Against Children Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children – 304.293.6400