Safeguarding God’s people

Although we are unable to undo the past, the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe know of the profound suffering and harm that incidents of sexual abuse of minors and sexual misconduct by some members of religious orders have caused innocent people and the Church community at large.

The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe does not tolerate or excuse the sexual abuse of a minor or sexual exploitation of a person receiving pastoral care by a friar of the province. Consistent with our Franciscan heritage, the province is committed to listening attentively to any allegation made by a person who believes that he or she has been harmed. The province is committed to full compliance with its policies regarding sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of an adult. Sexual abuse of a minor and sexual exploitation is contrary to our vowed life and our profession to live the Gospel. Reporting abuse is difficult and painful. Rest assured, this process is safe, confidential, and compassionate.

We encourage anyone who has been abused by a friar from this province to contact us through one of the ways provided below. Whatever means you choose to reach out, it is our genuine hope to help support you in your healing.

We are committed to listening openly to anyone making a complaint against a friar. The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe proactively enforces its polices with an active Provincial Review Board composed of laypeople and friars. The board addresses complaints with the utmost respect and compassion.

If you or someone you know has been hurt by a friar of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe services are available to you.

If you have information about alleged sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult by a friar, employee, or volunteer of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, report it by calling National Survivor/Victim Assistance Coordinator Angelica Jochim, MFT, at 1-800-770-8013 or emailing angelica.jochim@gmail.com. She will return your message within one business day.

Allegations of sexual abuse will be reported to civil authorities regardless of whether the accused friar is living or dead, or whether he is a current or former member of the province.

In cases where the victim is currently in danger, make a direct report to a law enforcement agency. If there is immediate danger, call 911 and follow whatever steps law enforcement agents advise. If the danger is less immediate, contact the local police department or state child welfare hotline. In cases where the victim is no longer a minor or the abuse occurred in the distant past, statutes of limitation vary by state. Please contact the local police department about making a report.

The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe has standards of conduct for friars, employees and volunteers in ministry with minors, policies for reporting misconduct with minors and the investigation of claims, policies for ethical ministry with vulnerable adults, Compliance Board procedures, social media guidelines, and other aspects of ministerial conduct that ensure nothing less than safe environments for the most vulnerable populations.

As Franciscans, we seek to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its mandates, to live our vowed life, and to act properly at all times within the limits of the culture and the societies in which we live. Our Code of Ministerial Conduct defines the ministerial conduct expected of friars in our province called to live the Evangelical Counsels.