U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection Releases Annual Report
July 18, 2023

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has released the 2022 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 …

Declaración sobre el Rev. Antonio Londoño, un sacerdote que sirvió en la Diócesis de St. Petersburg de 1994 a 2002
May 19, 2023

Se ha presentado una acusación de mala conducta contra una persona menor de 18 años contra el Rev. Antonio Londoño. La conducta delictiva presuntamente tuvo lugar en el 1999. El padre Londoño fue ordenado para la Diócesis de St. Petersburg en el 1994 y sirvió en cuatro parroquias de la Diócesis hasta dejar el ministerio …

Statement About Reverend Antonio Londono, a Priest who Served in the Diocese of St. Petersburg from 1994-2002
May 16, 2023

An allegation of misconduct with a person under the age of 18 years has been made against Reverend Antonio Londono. The offending conduct allegedly took place in 1999. Father Londono was ordained for the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1994 and served in four parishes of the Diocese until leaving active ministry permanently in 2002. …

U.S. Bishops Continue to Offer Child Protection and Safe Environment Resources to Assist Dioceses
June 21, 2022

This June marks twenty years since the U.S. bishops gathered in Dallas, Texas to address the issue of clergy sexual abuse. At their 2002 meeting, the bishops drafted and passed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr., of Kansas City-St. Joseph, chairman of the United States Conference …

2021 Annual Report
April 5, 2022

Each year, the Diocese of St. Petersburg is blessed with gifts of time, talent and treasure from our faith family across the five counties that make up our diocese. As Bishop Parkes explains in his introductory note, “The generosity that you have shown through your support of our ministry and services here in the Diocese …

Statement Regarding Father Patrick H. Koch, S.J., a Deceased Priest Who Served in the Diocese of St. Petersburg Between 1994-1997
January 5, 2022

The Diocese of St. Petersburg has been made aware of a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by Father Patrick H. Koch, S.J., a priest of the U.S.A Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order). Father Koch served as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Tampa, from 1994-1997.  He …

U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection Releases Annual Report
December 2, 2021

USCCB– The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has released the 2020 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, …

USCCB President Appoints New Member of National Review Board
August 2, 2021

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has appointed Dr. Julie H. Rubio to serve on the National Review Board (NRB). The NRB was established as part of the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People and advises the bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and …

Bishop Gregory Parkes to Celebrate Mass of Healing for Victims of Abuse
April 13, 2021

Bishop Parkes will celebrate a Mass of Healing for those in need of spiritual healing because of abuse in all forms, including sexual, physical or emotional, and those who wish to pray for victims/survivors of abuse, their family and friends. The community is invited to participate. The Mass will held on Saturday, April 24, 2021 …

Diocese of St. Petersburg Remains in Compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
October 5, 2020

An independent firm that specializes in investigatory and analytical consulting has found that the Diocese of St. Petersburg is in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Stonebridge Business Partners of Rochester, New York conducted an audit of the Diocese’s Safe Environment policies and procedures on September 8-9, 2020. Based …

U.S. Bishops Secretariat For Child and Youth Protection Releases Annual Report
June 26, 2020

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has released the 2019 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, …

President of U.S. Bishops’ Conference Appoints Four New Members of National Review Board for the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People
June 15, 2020

Four new members have been appointed to serve on the National Review Board (NRB) by Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The NRB advises the bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and was established as part of the Charter for Protection …

Church Strengthens Efforts to Protect Children and Vulnerable Populations
April 20, 2020

In the Diocese of St. Petersburg, the Safe Environment Program Office, which was established in 2003, oversees a comprehensive program of child abuse prevention that is focused on background checks and training of all adults entrusted with the care, responsibility and/or supervision of minors or vulnerable adults. The office was established in compliance with the …

Nationwide Service is Launched to Report Sexual Misconduct Involving U.S. Bishops
March 30, 2020

As part of an ongoing commitment to carry out Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter (Vos estis lux mundi) to address the issue of sexual abuse throughout the Catholic Church, the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service (CBAR) was established in March 2020 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Individuals may go to ReportBishopAbuse.org in order to …

National Child and Youth Protection Leader Affirms Diocese of St. Petersburg
August 14, 2019

During the week of July 8, 2019, the Diocese of St. Petersburg welcomed a visit from Deacon Bernie Nojadera, Executive Director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, based in Washington D.C. The purpose of the visit was for Deacon Nojadera to learn how the Diocese of St. …

Pope Francis Establishes New Rules for the Whole Church To Strengthen Protections for Children and Vulnerable Persons
July 9, 2019

Pope Francis has issued a document known as a Motu Proprio called Vos estis lux mundi (You are the Light of the World) that establishes new procedures for reporting abuse and violence and ensures that Bishops and Religious Superiors are held accountable for their actions. (Related article from the Vatican) This is an opportunity to build …

President of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Renews Commitment for Greater Effectiveness and Transparency in Disciplining Bishops
August 27, 2018

August 27, 2018 WASHINGTON— Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued the following statement. Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement follows: “In communion with the Holy Father, I join the Executive Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in taking upon ourselves his exhortation, ‘this …

Bishop Parkes Asks Parishes to Read this Statement
August 27, 2018

During all the Masses on August 18 and 19, 2018, Bishop Gregory Parkes has asked that a statement from him be read to the congregation, The statement is in response to tragic instances of clergy sexual abuse that have come to light over the past few weeks. English Statement Spanish Statement Vietnamese Statement