In accordance with diocesan policy, when a single act of sexual abuse is admitted or established, the offender is to be removed permanently from ministry. To help hold offenders accountable, report all abuse to local public authorities. You can also contact your local diocesan victim assistance coordinator to make a report and seek outreach for the abused.

​Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: (414) 758-2232

Archdiocese of Milwaukee

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Proclamation


Safe Environment Education Sessions

These trainings focus on identifying grooming behaviors, recognizing signs of abuse and neglect, and how to report concerning behavior and abuse and neglect to the proper authorities. This three-hour training is part of the safe environment certification process, and is a crucial part of training our adults to prepare them to volunteer in our parish/school. ​

Resources


Prayer Resources

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Did You Know...

  • In 2023, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, over 250 Safe Environment Education Sessions were conducted with over 4,400 adults trained in identifying signs of abuse and neglect, over 7,900 criminal background checks were conducted on clergy, employees, and volunteers, and about 40,000 children were trained in Safe Environment topics. Every year in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, each parish and school are required to complete a report documenting their compliance with the Safe Environment Program’s policies and procedures. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Safe Environment Office uses those reports to compile an archdiocesan report for USCCB audit firm Stonebridge Partners on our archdiocesan compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has been found compliant every year since 2004.
  • All clergy, employees and volunteers are instructed to contact local law enforcement or Child Protective Services immediately if they are made aware of a child being sexually abused. All bishops, priests, deacons lay parish/school staffs, and volunteers are required to follow the mandatory reporting laws of the State of Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, all clergy and all school employees are considered mandatory reporters and can face legal penalties for failing to report suspected or known child abuse or neglect. 
  • All seminarians and candidates for the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee undergo criminal background checks, Safe Environment Education training in child abuse prevention, interviews, psychological evaluations, classes and workshops on human sexuality, and mandatory reporter training. 
  • All clergy, employees, and volunteers are required to meet all of the requirements of safe environment certification. Certification includes participating in training on recognizing signs of abuse and neglect, identifying grooming behaviors, training in maintaining boundaries, and mandatory reporting; reviewing the Code of Ethical Standards and the Social Media and Digital Communication Policy, and undergoing a criminal background check. Certification is required prior to beginning ministry and subsequently every five years. 
  • The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has a Victim Assistance Coordinator that assists survivors of sexual abuse to navigate through the process of reporting abuse and receiving counselling services. The Victim Assistance Coordinator can be reached at (414) 758-2232. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee also has a third-party reporting mechanism for misconduct through Convercent. All mandatory reporting laws in the State of Wisconsin are required to be followed with all reports to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee or Convercent. A report of abuse can also be made through the Advocate Aurora Healing Center or directly reported to the appropriate civil authorities. 
  • No priest or deacon with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor can or will ever serve as a priest or deacon in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. 
  • In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, a Diocesan Review Board reviews allegations against clergy involving abuse of a minor and serves as an instrument to help hold our diocese accountable.