Independent Review Board

The Diocesan Review Board was created in 2002 and is an advisory board made up of seven, voting members, who are lay people from the Diocese. The board meets as needed and has convened more than 80 times since it was formed to address allegations made. These board members include licensed therapists, a judge, nurses, police officers, and a psychiatrist. In addition, five or six resource people from the Diocese regularly attend the board meetings, this includes Bishop Nickless and the Diocese’s legal counsel.

Every claim of sexual abuse or misconduct we receive is reported to local authorities and the Diocesan Review Board.  Once an allegation has been made, the review board reviews the facts and may call for an investigation. Based upon their findings, the review board will make the determination if an allegation is credible or not credible. If the allegation involves a priest currently in ministry, the Bishop will suspend the priest from duties until local authorities and the review board complete their respective investigations.