Minor Diocesan Review Board

The Minor Diocesan Review Board is an independent, confidential and consultative body that advises the Bishop in his assessment of allegations of sexual misconduct involving a minor or vulnerable adult brought against a cleric (priest or deacon). The Board will advise the Bishop in his determination of suitability for ministry of priests or deacons accused of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. The Board is evaluative. 

The members of the Minor Diocesan Review Board are appointed by the Bishop to staggered five-year terms once renewable.  The Bishop may remove a member of the Board, but must state a serious reason for this action

The Minor Diocesan Review Board shall conduct its business at meetings.  These meetings shall be scheduled to occur quarterly, or as often as necessary in order to perform its duties.

• The meeting shall reflect the pastoral care of this process, which is consultative and advisory and not adversarial and adjudicative.
• The Board receives and considers information, deliberates and formulates its determinations, and makes its recommendation to the Bishop.
• One half of the membership of the Board shall constitute a Quorum.
• The Board may meet in person or by video or telephone conference.

• The Board shall be comprised of no less than five and no more than nine members.
• The majority of the Board must be laypersons not in the employ of the diocese.
• One member of the Board must be a priest who is experienced and respected as a pastor in the diocese.
• One member of the Board will have specific expertise on the treatment of sexual abuse of minors.
• All Members of the Board shall be of outstanding integrity and possess good judgment.
• All members of the Board must be in full communion with the church; however, the Bishop has the right to make an exception to this requirement.
• One member of the Board must be a victim/survivor or a parent of a victim/survivor of clergy childhood sexual abuse.
• Board members will be appointed for a term of five years, renewable for an additional five-year period.
• Members of the Board are to be volunteers.
• The Victims Assistance Coordinator will be staff to the Board.
• The Promoter of Justice is appointed by the Bishop to attend and participate in all meetings of the Diocesan Review Board. The Promoter of Justice, however, is not a member of the Board.

• The Chairperson will ordinarily convene and preside at the meetings of the Board in accordance with the will of the Board.
• The Vice Chairperson will perform these functions when the Chairperson is unable to do so.

• Assess the allegations of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults in order to advise the Bishop on whether or not the allegations appear to be credible.
• Make recommendations as to the fitness of the alleged offender to continue in ministry while his case is pending.
• Establish an ongoing relationship with outside experts. This may be key in assuring the Board's need to act promptly in these cases.  The Board may be assisted in its deliberations, assessment and investigations by the Diocesan Attorney or by a mental Health Professional chosen for his or her expertise in cases of sexual abuse.
• Keep confidential the information to which it is privy as a member of the Board.
• Periodically review Diocesan Policies and Procedures for dealing with sexual abuse of minors at appropriate intervals.