This toll free telephone number has been established as part of our effort to protect children, young people and other vulnerable persons in our schools, parishes and ministries. This line is for reporting suspected sexual misconduct or child abuse within the institutions and ministries of the Diocese of Orange only. If you have some other type of complaint, please call the appropriate Diocesan parish, school, or office directly.

Unless your call involves a report of suspected sexual misconduct, it will receive no action by leaving a message on this toll free reporting line.

If you wish to make a report of "child abuse" but it does not involve suspected misconduct by one of our diocesan or parish priests, deacons, ministers, employees or volunteers, please make your report to the appropriate protection agency. You can call your local police department, or use the "child abuse hotline" number found in the front of your telephone directory.

Reporting Suspected Abuse of a Minor

If your report involves suspected sexual misconduct of a diocesan or parish clergy (bishop, priest, deacon), or religious (sister or brother) or employee or volunteer with a minor (under age 18), we strongly encourage you to identify:

• the child or children in danger (and their location)
• the name of the suspected abuser
• as well as your name, address and phone number

Though we will follow up on anonymous complaints regarding minors, please understand that for the protection of children it is a great help in finding the truth of the situation if it is possible to speak with you directly. Please note that leaving a complaint on this telephone line is not the same as making a report to the police or child protective agencies. In the case of minors, you should also make a report to the police or appropriate child protective agency.

Reporting abuse occuring outside the Diocese of Orange
Reporting abuse occuring inside the Diocese of Orange

Reporting Suspected Misconduct with an Adult

If your report involves suspected sexual misconduct of a diocesan clergy, religious, employee or volunteer with another adult, we are not able to act on anonymous complaints. So that we can follow up with complaints involving adults in a prompt manner, please be prepared to provide:

• your full name, address and phone number
• the names and locations of the parties involved