Reporting Abuse

The Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus takes allegations of sexual abuse seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate every allegation and complaint that is brought to its attention.

If you or someone you know has experienced abuse by a Jesuit, you are urged to report the incident to the law enforcement agency in the location where it happened. If the victim is a minor, you should also contact the local child protection agency.

The provincial has designated Carol Zarinelli Brescia, MSW, LCSW, to receive reports of sexual abuse on behalf of the province; she can be reached confidentially at (314) 915-7168 or by email at: ucsoutreach@jesuits.org.

The province will notify the appropriate state or local law enforcement agency of any report of the abuse of a person currently under the age of 18. The province will also report an allegation of past sexual abuse of a minor even if the alleged victim is now an adult, unless the person accused of abuse is known to be deceased.  Similar action will be taken if an allegation is received that a vulnerable adult was sexually abused.

Often there exists an overlap of jurisdiction when an allegation is submitted. Our goal is to ensure the safety of all persons and respect for the privacy and reputation of the persons involved. Therefore, the province commits itself to work with the appropriate Church offices or Jesuit schools or other institutions in investigating allegations, and will cooperate fully with any investigation by law enforcement.