Since 2004, all Catholic Dioceses have undergone yearly audits to prevent child sex abuse. After what it calls an extensive audit this year, The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington says it has been has been found in compliance with a set of rules created by church leadership in 2002 called the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
Robert Krebs, a spokesman for the Wilmington Diocese, says the auditors are from an independent, outside organization called Stonebridge Business Partners.
"They’re going throughout the United States and making sure that not just the letter of this charter for the protection of children and young people, but the spirit of the charter is followed as well," he said.
He adds this year’s audit was particularly rigorous and involved several on site interviews.
"We did have two auditors come on site. They reviewed documents, they interviewed members of our staff here at the diocese and parish staff and volunteers."
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington has also implemented a comprehensive safe environment program called For the Sake of God’s Children. That program stresses creating safe environments for kids and conducting background checks for Church personnel.
The local diocese has consistently been found in compliance with these audits since their start in 2004.