Has a priest assigned to St. Michael Parish ever had a credible accusation of child sexual abuse?

Yes.  The founding pastor of St. Michael Parish, Fr. John Leonard, was accused of incidents that occurred in the 1970s, long prior to his assignment here.  The investigation that ensued resulted in his removal as pastor and from the active ministry in 2004.  He passed away in 2015.  To date, there has not been an accusation of child sexual abuse arising from his assignment at St. Michael Parish.

How does St. Michael protect the children of the parish?

St. Michael Parish takes the protection of children very seriously.  All volunteers who work with children and youth must go through a background check that screens for criminal convictions of all types.  In addition, all volunteers must attend a VIRTUS-Protecting God’s Children session. VIRTUS training helps participants identify the signs of child sexual abuse, both in children and in abusers. These sessions are followed up by monthly bulletins with useful information on keeping children safe.

All employees must complete a more extensive background check conducted by the Virginia Department of Child Protective Services and attend VIRTUS.  In addition to this check, all clergy must be fingerprinted and go through an FBI background check.

All background checks are re-submitted every five years.

The most important thing we can do is keep our eyes open and report anything that does not seem right.

What should I do if I become aware of clergy or staff child sexual abuse?

The first thing you should do is call the authorities.  If it is an active situation, call 911.  If you become aware of child sexual abuse by clergy or staff, call the Child Protective Service Hotline at 800-552-7096, then call the Virginia Attorney General’s Office at 833-454-9064.  Then, contact Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator Jennifer Sloan at 877-887-9603.