August 11 , 2008

BISHOP ORDAINS TWO FOR PRIESTHOOD

The Diocese of Brooklyn has put into place a procedure that allows individuals who want to report financial, auditing or accounting misconduct by the Diocese, or by a parish, school or affiliated agency, to do so anonymously.

Called the Fiscal Management Report System, the new initiative is accessed online or by phone through EthicsPoint, Inc., an independent office that facilitates the process. Other (arch)dioceses have also adopted the program.

Employees, volunteers, parishioners, vendors and others can make a report by calling (888) 414-0895. Or they can use the Web by clicking on ethicspoint.com and following a prompt to The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.

The Web page contains a letter by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio which welcomes the system as “a new way of achieving” fiscal accountability in pursuit of Gospel stewardship.

In addition to the new reporting system, the Bishop writes, the Diocese uses other means of maintaining accountability. He lists among them the advice and counsel he receives from the Diocesan Finance Council, the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral Council.

He also notes the publishing of the annual diocesan financial report and budget in The Tablet and the diocesan Web site and the activity of the Parish Fiscal Management Office.

“These and other initiatives are valuable components of our efforts toward accountability,” the Bishops states.

He also emphasizes that persons can issue a report “without revealing their identity.”

The Archdioceses of Baltimore and Milwaukee are among the (arch)dioceses served by the EthicsPoint company.

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8/11/08