by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — “This is quite frankly the best job I’ve ever had,” said Declan Lowney.
Lowney is the new investigator-auditor for the archdiocesan office for protection and care (OPC). He started the position on April 8.
His eagerness for the work comes from “being able to work not only in something that’s important to me, which is assisting and helping victims,” he said, “but tying that together with the Catholic Church, which has unfortunately suffered over the years with the sexual abuse scandals.
“It means quite a bit to be able to be a small part in helping solve that issue and righting the wrong from so many years ago.”
Lowney is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated to the United States from Ireland in the 1980s.
He was raised in New York and grew up Catholic. He moved to the Kansas City metro around 10 years ago and is married to his wife Rachel.
Lowney became a law enforcement officer in 2015 at the University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department in Kansas City, Kansas, where he worked for three years.
He then joined the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department as a police officer for about five years. During that time, he worked as a patrol officer, field training officer and SWAT team officer.
Lowney earned the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Gold Award for Valor and the Metro Chiefs Association Silver Award for Valor.
But he felt pulled to make a career change.
“As I got out of law enforcement, I was looking for opportunities to get into something different,” said Lowney. “This happened to come up on my job search.
“And this opportunity struck me as something [where] I could still contribute by doing something good . . . and still make a difference and help victims in a meaningful way.”
His level of experience is what made him a standout candidate to the OPC, said director Jenifer Valenti.
“While possessing strong expertise in conducting investigations,” she said, “Declan’s trauma-informed and relational approach to interviewing set him apart from the other candidates.
“In addition to his investigative skills, he also had experience assessing and building program structure, which is a talent we were seeking as this role is integral to developing our new parish and school Safeguarding Program.”
As an auditor, Lowney builds relationships with the stakeholders within the archdiocesan community to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected in a safe environment.
By partnering with frontline workers, said Valenti, he will ensure everyone is doing their part to protect those who are vulnerable.
“When there has been a potential harm or abuse,” she continued, “particularly when committed by someone who is in a position of trust, the initial and ongoing response is critical.
“We must have someone who is trustworthy, objective and fair leading the response efforts.”
As an investigator, Lowney assists the OPC in its mission to walk with survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and other representatives of the Catholic Church.
He investigates all claims — no matter how long ago the alleged abuse occurred — and presents the findings to the archdiocesan Independent Review Board, which then provides its recommendations to the archbishop.
He pursues the truth in each investigation, said Valenti, no matter where it leads.
For Lowney, the work has already been fulfilling, and he looks forward to continuing to advance the OPC’s efforts.
“There’s a lot of harm that’s been caused by the church over the years due to some bad actors,” he said. “This is a good opportunity to right those wrongs and give back.”
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas takes all allegations of abuse and misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect and compassion. Anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when the misconduct may have occurred — is encouraged to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the archdiocese’s confidential report line at (913) 276-8703 or go online to: www.archkck.org/reportabuse.
