A shared commitment to protect our youth

April is designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month, serving as a vital reminder for everyone in the Archdiocese of Mobile to prioritize the protection and well-being of our youth. As Archbishop, I assure you that we as an archdiocese are vigilant in this priority. I have served on the USCCB Child and Youth Protection Committee, met with victim-survivors and their families, and collaborated with our own archdiocesan Office for the Protection of Minors and Adults (OPMA) to ensure that our parishes are in compliance with child and youth protection training. The OPMA is also audited each year for compliance by an independent firm hired by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Last year, a total of 7,877 minors were trained, and 1,302 background checks were conducted on new employees and volunteers. Additionally, the archdiocese conducted 303 group training sessions.