All of us are aware of how the recent disclosures of child sexual abuse now hang like a dark shadow over the Catholic Church. As part of the efforts to make sure that this tragic chapter is never repeated, the bishops now require anyone who works with children to undergo a Criminal Background Check, read the Archdiocesan Ethical Code of Conduct and attend a Safe Environment Education workshop (none of these costs you any money).
To read the Archdiocesan Code of Ethical Standards, click on the link below. Please print a copy of the last page which has a signature form stating you have read the Code. This must be dated and signed and sent to the parish office to be kept in your file.
Code of Ethical Standards
Print out the form at the link below and return it to the parish office. It gives us permission to submit your name to be screened. Unfortunately, this form is a universal release which is not only used for criminal background checks, but in other instances credit checks. We do not do a credit check. The only thing we are trying to find out is if the person has a criminal background that would prevent them from working with children. No other information is requested. This information is not entered onto our parish database, but is kept in a locked filing cabinet and remains on file as required by the National Safe Environment Policy of the Catholic Church. We want you to be assured that no one is prying into your credit rating and access to your information is restricted to parish staff on a “need to know” basis.
Criminal Background Check Form
From time to time we schedule a Safe Environment Education training to take place here at St. Robert . The Safe Environment workshops take up to 3 hours to complete. To attend a workshop (even here at St. Robert) you must register.
Registration Instructions
Mandatory Reporting Responsibilities
As part of our commitment to this program, ongoing instruction is required. All current volunteers are asked to review the most recent issue of the Safe Environment Newsletter.
If you have questions you can contact Mary Jorgenson at ext. 3044 in the parish office.
