Report Misconduct

Reporting abuse takes courage. Whether it happened last week or fifty years ago, whether it happened here or in another parish, whether you are the person harmed, a parent, or a witness, you will be believed, listened to and supported. This page sets out, as clearly as we can, every way to report, and what happens after you do. You do not have to choose the "right" channel; any of them will get help to you.

Reporting to the Archdiocese of Toronto

Allegations of abuse or misconduct by any priest, deacon, religious, employee or volunteer serving in the Archdiocese are handled by the archdiocesan Safe Environment office under the Strengthening the Caring Community policy. You can contact that office directly, without going through the parish, through the contact details published at archtoronto.org. The office will:

• Listen to you, in person, by phone or in writing, in the language you are most comfortable in;
• Report any allegation involving a minor to the police and children's aid, and cooperate fully with their investigation;
• Remove the accused person from ministry while the matter is examined;
• Offer you counselling and pastoral support at the Archdiocese's expense, regardless of the outcome of any investigation;
• Keep you informed of the process and its result.

Reporting to the parish

You may also report directly to the parish. Fr. Daniel Moreau, Pastor, can be reached at 416-555-0142 ext. 22 or pastor@stcolumbatoronto.ca. If the concern involves the pastor himself, contact the Archdiocese rather than the parish. Every report made to the parish about clergy, staff or volunteers is passed to the archdiocesan Safe Environment office the same day; the parish does not investigate on its own. Teresa Alvarez, our Safe Environment Coordinator (ext. 21), can also receive a report and will make sure it reaches the right people.

Reporting a bishop

Concerns about a bishop, including the Archbishop of Toronto, an auxiliary bishop or a retired bishop, whether for abuse or for mishandling a report of abuse, are handled by the Canadian Reporting System for Sexual Abuse or Cover-up by a Catholic Bishop, established by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in response to Pope Francis's 2019 decree Vos estis lux mundi. Reports are received by an independent third-party service and forwarded to the appropriate Church authority, and may be made anonymously.

What happens after you report

1. You are heard

   A trained person meets with you or speaks with you by phone. You may bring a friend, family member or advocate. You will not be asked to confront the person you are reporting.

2. Civil authorities are involved

   Any allegation involving a minor, or any allegation that may be a crime, is reported to police. The Church does not ask you to choose between a police report and a Church report; you may make both, and the Archdiocese will not obstruct or delay a criminal investigation.

3. Protective measures

   The person named is placed on administrative leave or removed from their volunteer role while the matter is examined, whatever their position.

4. Investigation

   Once any police process allows, the Archdiocese conducts its own review, which may involve an independent investigator and, for clergy, the archdiocesan review committee that includes lay experts. You will be told the outcome.

5. Ongoing support

   Support for you does not end when the investigation does. Counselling, spiritual accompaniment and a pastoral response can continue for as long as they are helpful.

Support for victims and survivors

The Archdiocese of Toronto provides professional counselling to anyone who reports abuse by a person serving in the Church, and to their immediate family, without requiring a finding of fault first. If you would rather not approach the Church at all, that is understood; community services such as the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, the Assaulted Women's Helpline (1-866-863-0511) and the Ontario Victim Support Line (1-888-579-2888) can help, and the parish will assist you in reaching them if you wish. Our clergy are available for pastoral conversation if you want it; no one is ever asked to forgive as a condition of being helped.

Confidentiality

Your report is shared only with the people who need to act on it: the Safe Environment office, the Archbishop or his delegate, the police and children's aid where required, and the accused person's superior. Your name is not shared with the wider parish, and it is not disclosed to the person accused without your knowledge. You may report anonymously, though this can limit what the Archdiocese is able to investigate. Records are kept securely and indefinitely so that a pattern can be recognised even years later.

No retaliation

Anyone who makes a report in good faith, or who cooperates with an investigation, is protected from retaliation of any kind: no loss of ministry, no exclusion from the parish, no pressure to withdraw. Retaliation is itself misconduct under archdiocesan policy and will be treated as such. Making a knowingly false report is also a serious matter, but an honest report that turns out to be mistaken is never held against the person who made it.

Concerns that are not about abuse, such as financial irregularities, harassment between adults or breaches of privacy, can be raised with the pastor, or with the Archdiocese if they involve the pastor, under the same principles of confidentiality and no retaliation.

If you are unsure whether what you experienced counts, or who to tell, contact the archdiocesan Safe Environment office or call the parish at 416-555-0142. Asking is always the right thing to do.