Bishop Abuse Reporting Service

Pope Francis has structured the handling and investigation of the complaints using the metropolitan archbishops.  What does this mean?  

• The Catholic Church in the US has 32 provinces.
• Each province has one archdiocese plus several dioceses.
• The head of the archdiocese – the archbishop – is also known as the “metropolitan” and he presides over the province.
• The other dioceses are referred to as “suffragan” dioceses.
• The dioceses of Wisconsin are considered one province. 

 

History
In May 2019, Pope Francis released his apostolic letter, Vos estis lux mundi (You are the light of the world) to address the issue of sexual abuse and bishop accountability in the global Catholic Church. Vos Estis calls upon the metropolitan archbishops to undertake the responsibilities for receiving and assessing reports involving bishops that pertain to sexual abuse and related misconduct.  In June 2019, one month after Pope Francis issued his order, the bishops of the United States convened for their general assembly in Baltimore and approved the implementation plan for carrying out the directives of the Holy Father here in the United States. 
 
USCCB Response
As part of this ongoing commitment to carrying out Vos Estis, the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service (CBAR) was established.  The service is operated by Convercent, Inc., an independent, third-party entity that provides intake services to private institutions for reports of sensitive topics such as sexual harassment through a secure, confidential, and professional platform.  Reports are accepted online via ReportBishopAbuse.org or via phone at 800 276 1562 
 
How It Works
The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting service allows for individuals to relay to Church authorities any reports of a US Catholic bishop who has:

• Forced someone to perform or to submit to sexual acts through violence, threat, or abuse of authority.
• Performed sexual acts with a minor or a vulnerable person.
• Produced, exhibited, possessed, or distributed child pornography, or recruited or induced a minor or a vulnerable person to participate in pornographic exhibitions.
• Or, a diocesan or eparchial bishop, or a cleric overseeing a diocese/eparchy in the absence of a diocesan or eparchial bishop, who has intentionally interfered with a civil or church investigation into allegations of sexual abuse committed by another cleric or religious. 

 
When a report is received, it will be forwarded to the local metropolitan archbishop who will undertake the responsibility of initially assessing the report.  Most Reverend Jerome Listecki of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is the metropolitan who presides over the dioceses of Wisconsin which includes: the Diocese of Green Bay, the Diocese of La Crosse, the Diocese of Madison, and the Diocese of Superior.   
 
In the event that a report is received that concerns Archbishop Listecki, that report will be forwarded to Most Reverend David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay who is the senior suffragan bishop of this province (Wisconsin). 
 
The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service (CBAR) does not replace existing reporting systems for complaints against priests, deacons, religious or laity.  CBAR was designed to respond only to complaints against bishops for issues related to sexual misconduct. 
 
Reports concerning abuse or sexual misconduct within Diocese of Superior ministry by priests, deacons, religious brothers or sisters, or lay persons working or volunteering for the Church will be handled in accordance with the Diocese of Superior’s established procedure :

 https://www.catholicdos.org/reporting-abuse.  

 ​​If you are the victim of sexual abuse (or any other crime),
please contact your local law enforcement.