Safe Environment

The Prelature in the United States is committed to providing a safe environment in all its activities for minors and vulnerable adults. It follows the policies and procedures issued by the Holy See for the universal Church as well as the indications given for dioceses in the United States by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.

The Prelature in the United States is committed to providing a safe environment in all its activities for minors and vulnerable adults. It follows the policies and procedures issued by the Holy See for the universal Church as well as the indications given for dioceses in the United States by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, 2018; Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons, 2006).

Following the publication of Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio Vos estis lux mundi (2019), Opus Dei’s Prelate, Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, issued guidelines for the whole Prelature regarding all types of abuse: Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei: Guidelines for the Protection of Minors and Other Vulnerable Persons (2020). In these guidelines, he applies to the Prelature the guiding principles for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons enunciated by the Holy Father in the norms given for Vatican City on March 26, 2019.

In 2008, the Prelature in the United States, in accord with the USCCB’s Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons (2006), approved a policy for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse of minors and also established a Review Board to study any such cases. In 2021, the Vicar for the Prelature in the United States, Msgr. Thomas G. Bohlin, approved a revised policy: Policy and Procedures Relating to Allegations of Abuse of Minors or Vulnerable Adults in Activities of the Prelature of Opus Dei in the United States.

Following the indications given for dioceses in the United States in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, in 2008 the Prelature of Opus Dei in the United States adopted a code of conduct for personnel working in activities with minors. The Code was revised in May 2022: The Prelature of Opus Dei in the United States: Code of Conduct for Activities Involving Minors.

To report an instance of sexual abuse of a minor by personnel of the Prelature, please contact the Prelature’s Victim Response Coordinator at 646-742-2741 or by email at safeenvironment@opusdei.org.

Incident Report

Policies and Handbooks for Safe Environment in the Delegation of Central United States.