(October 4 2004) – Bishop Joseph Galante has appointed Rod J. Herrera, MSW, LCSW to be the director of the diocese’s Office of Safe Environment for Children, Youth and Adults.
The office will oversee and coordinate the various activities of the diocese which are undertaken to fulfill the requirements of the Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People, which was adopted by the United States bishops in June 2002 in response to the sexual abuse of minors by clergy.
Mr. Herrera, 48, has held a range of positions in the diocese, including Director of Priest Personnel, Director of the Sacred Heart Residence, and Director of Clinical Services for Priests.
Prior to joining the diocese in 2000, Mr. Herrera was Manager of the Social Work and Counseling Departments at Samaritan Hospice in Marlton, adjunct professor at the Rutgers’ School of Social Work in Camden, clinical social worker and therapist at Guadalupe Family Services in Camden, and clinical social work supervisor in the department of pediatrics at The Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper Medical Center.
“I am pleased to appoint Rod Herrera to this important position to ensure that the diocese’s many programs and initiatives for the care of children and young people are well-integrated, effective and fully serving the needs of those entrusted to the care of the Church,” said Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, Bishop of Camden. “He will be able to draw with great sensitivity on his social services experience, his work with children and young people, his work with priests, and his academic credentials in both social work and religious studies in this critical role,” he added.
Mr. Herrera obtained his Master of Arts in Social Work (1988) from California State University, Fresno and his Master of Science, Religion and Religious Education (1985) from Fordham University. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Psychology from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles.
The father of four children, Mr. Herrera is on the board of directors for “Camp No Worries,” a summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings. He has also served on committees for Cooper Hospital (Camden), Valley Children’s Hospital (Fresno), the American Cancer Society and the New Jersey Regional Hemophilia Program.
“I am excited and honored that Bishop Galante, who has made our commitments under the Charter such an important priority, has asked me to take on these responsibilities,” said Mr. Herrera. “I look forward to ensuring that we build on the tremendous progress this diocese has made to ensure the ongoing care of children and young people.
The Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People was adopted by the United States bishops to promote healing and reconciliation with victim/survivors of sexual abuse, to respond promptly to allegations of abuse and to ensure that allegations are reported to public authorities, to ensure that offending clergy are removed permanently from ministry, to establish preventative measures including safe environment programs and criminal history background checks, and to ensure codes of conduct for clergy and others in positions of trust.
According to the diocese, the last known allegation of abuse involving a minor occurred in 1995. Two separate independent audits conducted in August 2003 and August 2004 by the Gavin Group in Boston found the Diocese of Camden to be fully compliant with the provisions of the Charter.