WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has released the 2023 Annual Report – Findings and Recommendations on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The report is based on the audit findings of StoneBridge Business Partners, a specialty consulting firm headquartered in Rochester, New York, which provides forensic, internal, and compliance audit services to leading organizations nationwide. A survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) regarding allegations of abuse of minors and costs is also included as a part of the report.

Last September StoneBridge conducted an in-person audit and examined our work from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. The auditors looked at how well we were complying with the articles set forth in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. They also completed five on-site audits of parishes and schools around the diocese. The EIM Office prepared for over six months to complete this audit. We found proof of compliance with the charter for that three-year span and that evidence was then presented to the auditors. In the end, the Diocese of Austin was found to be compliant with the articles of the charter.