The revised Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee for Sexual Abuse of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved by the full body of U.S. Catholic bishops at its June 2005 Plenary Assembly, and this third revision was approved at the June 2018 Plenary Assembly.

The revised Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse of the USCCB and by the Vatican – U.S. Bishops’ Mixed Commission on Sex Abuse Norms.

They were approved by the full body of bishops at its June 2005 General Meeting, received the subsequent recognitio
of the Holy See on January 1, 2006, and were promulgated May 5, 2006. The revised
Statement of Episcopal Commitment was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Bishops’ Life
and Ministry of the USCCB. It was approved by the full body of U.S. Catholic bishops at its November 2005 Plenary Assembly and then again in 2011 and 2018.

This revised edition, containing all three documents, is authorized for publication by the undersigned.
Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield
General Secretary, USCCB