• All Diocesan Personnel (by definition, volunteers are
included
in personnel) who have direct contact with minors as
part of their employment or ministry have been provided with
a copy of the policy on Sexual Misconduct.
• All Diocesan Personnel who have direct contact with
minors as part of their employment or ministry received training
under the Sexual Misconduct Policy before they are allowed to
continue in their ministry.
• Future schedules of on-going training have been established
to continue to increase the public awareness of child sexual
abuse.
• Safe Environment Systems called “MAPS”
– Ministries, Agencies, Programs and School training programs
have been instituted for all parishioners who are school age
and above.
• The Office of the Child & Youth Protection has
an Advocate that participates in Community Training, Service
Programs and Educational Workshops to maintain a presence in
the public and gather information about current resources.
• The Diocesan Public Information Officer works with
the media on a daily basis to promote coverage of the on-going
efforts to develop safe environments in our community.
• The Office of Human Resources is working to institute
a system of background checks for all employees and regular
volunteers that go above and beyond the minimum requirements.
In addition to vigorously checking references, each parish and
department checks the Arizona Sex Offender website on a monthly
basis, and persons employed through the school system are fingerprinted
and cleared by the Department of Public Safety. (Not completed
as of 12/01/03)
• The Vicar for Priests checks background references
and Public Safety records for all priests.
• The Director of Deacons has checked references and
transfer records as well as the Public Safety records on all
deaconate candidates and permanent deacons annually.
• The Vicar of Religious obtains a letter of recommendation
from the Leadership Council of all religious sisters and brothers.
• The Executive Director of Christian Formation and Education
has a letter of recommendation from the Leadership Council from
the Community for Religious persons assigned to Catholic Schools
or in Catechetical/Pastoral roles. Persons not in a Consecrated
Life who do catechetical pastoral ministry with youth are asked
to sign a ministry agreement form. These are attached to a checklist
of other forms such as resumes, attendance of Safe Environment
training and fingerprinting records.
• The Director of Vocations has all candidates screened
through comprehensive psychological evaluation programs.
• Prior to ANY transfer of a priest or a deacon, a complete
confidential report must be submitted to the Moderator of the
Curia & the Office for the Protection of Children &
Youth regarding any allegations of sexual abuse with a minor
AND any other information concerning any other danger the person
may present to children or young people.
• Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s) are written
to provide a preventive source of understanding that will help
us to respond to the need of victims as a church united in compassion
and to protect the unity and common discipline of the entire
church (Canon 392).
• Personnel who have direct contact with the allegations
made to the Youth Protection Office are professional adults
who have signed confidentiality statements and participate in
continuing education training regarding the professional ethical
standards of client confidentiality.
