If you’ve been sexually exploited or abused by a priest, brother, sister or lay person employed by the Diocese of Wilmington or by a church volunteer in service to a parish or school or other church organization; we want to help you.
We realize that bringing a misconduct complaint to authorities and/or to the Diocese of Wilmington can be a frightening experience and we want to make the process as safe and as comfortable as possible. We promise to be open and respectful of your complaint
The policy of the Diocese of Wilmington regarding persons who file complaints regarding past incidences of childhood sexual abuse by a priest or other church personnel is to (a) listen carefully to the allegation, (b) report to and cooperate with civil authority, (c) provide spiritual and psychological counseling to a survivor, and, if necessary, to the survivor’s family, and (d) to reimburse the survivor of such abuse for any documented out of pocket expenses for counseling paid up to the time of the complaint.
We are sorry for the pain you have experienced.
How to notify the Diocese of Wilmington:
Call the diocesan Survivor Assistance Coordinator, Peggy McLaughlin at 302-468-4507. Ms. McLaughlin will take the information about the abuse, offer personal counseling and will ask your permission to advise church officials, specifically the Vicar General of the Diocese, about your complaint
We can also help you bring your complaint to church officials outside the Diocese of Wilmington if the abuse occurred in another diocese or church jurisdiction and you now reside in Delaware or on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Click here to learn about what the Diocese of Wilmington does with reports of sexual abuse.
