Philadelphia Archdiocese Compensation Program

Philadelphia Archdiocese – Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program

On November 13, 2018, the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the launch of its “Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program for Claims of Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors” (the “IRRP”). Designed as an additional compensation program to one the Archdiocese implemented in 2003, the IRRP is intended “to provide support and compensation for victims/survivors abused as minors by priests or deacons of the Archdiocese.”

The IRRP is a voluntary compensation program. No one is required to participate. Importantly, the submission of a claim does not obligate the claimant to accept the offer of compensation made by the IRRP. If an offer of compensation is made by the IRRP and accepted by the claimant, the claimant will be required to sign a Release.

Following is a summary of the IRRP:

• The IRRP became effective November 13, 2018.
• Only claims of sexual abuse of minors perpetrated by clergy of the Philadelphia Archdiocese are eligible.
• Claimants who have not previously reported a claim to the Philadelphia Archdiocese must REGISTER WITH IRRP on or before July 13, 2019.
• A claim package will then be issued and, to be considered, a claim must be submitted by September 30, 2019.
• To register, a claimant or his/her attorney will provide:
  • The claimant’s name
  • Contact information
  • A description of the claim that includes dates and locations of the abuse and the name of the perpetrator.
• Privacy considerations: According to the IRRP Protocol,”... information submitted by a Claimant and the Archdiocese ...will be used and disclosed only for the following purposes:
  • Processing the Claimant’s claim, including procedures for payment.
  • Administering the Program, including work by the Oversight Committee and Victim Support Facilitator.
  • Program-related work, including internal investigations, by the Archdiocese and its designees.
  • Reports to law enforcement.
  • The protection of children under the Safe Environment Program.
  • To protect the privacy of Claimants that participate in the IRRP, one year after the conclusion of the Program all personal information provided by the Claimant during this process will be destroyed, except to the extent otherwise required by law.
  • All confidentiality requirements are subject to law, regulation, and judicial process.



Sources

IRRP Protocol at Pages 10-11