DIOCESE OF FRESNO
The Charter
for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the
United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops requires:
·
All employees and
volunteers, who work regularly with children, to be cleared through a
background evaluation conducted by the Diocesan Department of Human Resources.
·
Participation in
the safe environment training, Creating Safe Environments for Our Children and Ourselves, or online training at an approved website, or viewing KidSafety of America video training program.
·
Acceptance of and sign off on the Diocese of Fresno Code of
Conduct.
Parishes and
schools will maintain a record of compliance of all three mandatory elements.
These records for
clergy, employees, and volunteers will be maintained in a confidential space.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR
MINISTERS
The Diocese of Fresno
developed the following Code of Conduct for ministers in the Diocese of Fresno.
In this
Code of Conduct clergy, employees, and volunteers are considered ministers. The Diocese requires all clergy, employees, and volunteers to acknowledge receipt of the document,
understand the document, and comply with the document by signing and dating
this Code of Conduct.
Professional Ethical
Obligations
1.
Ministerial Role
a) Ministers work
collaboratively with all those engaged in ministry.
b) Ministers
faithfully represent the teachings of the Catholic Church with integrity
in
word and action.
c) Ministers are
competent and receive ongoing education and training commensurate
with their role(s) and responsibilities.
2. Inclusion
a) Ministers recognize the dignity of each person.
b) Ministers serve all people without regard to gender, creed, national
origin, age, marital
status, socio-economic status,
or political beliefs.
c) Ministers ensure that all persons with special needs have reasonable
accommodations.
3. Accountability
a) Priests are accountable to the Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno or the
person he
designates; all other
ministers are accountable to the pastor, principal, or other duly
appointed representative under
the authority of the Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno.
b) Ministers are called to serve the faith community, carrying out their
ministerial
functions “… conscientiously,
zealously, and diligently”.
c) Ministers
exercise responsible stewardship of resources while holding themselves to
the highest standards of integrity
regarding the fiscal matters placed in their trust.
d)
Ministers are responsible for supporting each other toward being effective
leaders. This support must include
discussing concerns about inappropriate
behaviors concerning children, youth, or
vulnerable adults with the particular
minister and/or minister’s supervisor.
4. Confidentiality
a)
Ministers respect confidentiality when appropriate except in a Mandated Reporting
situation, threats of suicide, or in
response to acts of violence to self, others, or
property.
b) Ministers
adhere to civil law concerning the reporting of neglect or abuse
or whenever physical harm could come to
children, youth, or vulnerable adults.
c) Ministers
support the rights and roles of parents, guardians, and caretakers while
ministering to the needs and concerns of
children, youth, or vulnerable adults.
5. Conduct
a) Ministers will
sustain respectful relationships with all those they serve, avoiding sexual
harassment and other abuses of power.
b) Ministers
maintain appropriate professional boundaries with colleagues. Romantic or
sexual relationships between a minister and
a child, youth, or vulnerable adult are
inappropriate and unethical, regardless of
who initiates the conduct.
c) Ministers must
model healthy and positive behaviors with all children, youth, or
vulnerable adults.
d) Procuring,
providing, or using alcohol and/or controlled substances for or with
children, youth, or vulnerable adults is
prohibited.
6. Referrals
and Intervention
a) Ministers should be aware of the signs of physical, sexual, and
psychological abuse
and neglect.
b) Ministers
should be aware of their limitations and make appropriate counseling
referrals.
c) Ministers
should adhere to civil and ecclesial law, policy, and procedure for reporting
child, youth, or vulnerable adult abuse, suspected abuse, or
neglect.
7. Parish/School
/Diocesan Policies and Guidelines
a) Ministers
should be aware of and comply with all applicable parish/school,
organizational and/or diocesan policies and
guidelines with special attention to
ministerial competency, sexual misconduct,
safety, transportation, and parental
permission.
Behavior Standards
1. Any verbal or nonverbal sexual behavior with
any child, youth, or vulnerable adult is
inappropriate and forbidden.
2. All reasonable suspicions of child or sexual
abuse must be reported as required by
state law and diocesan policies. Any
knowledge or suspicion of any minister,
employee, or volunteer having an
inappropriate relationship with a child, youth, or
vulnerable adult must be reported
immediately to that person’s supervisor and to a
representative of the Bishop’s Sensitive
Claim Committee.
3. All observed violations of this Code of
Conduct must be reported to a supervisor and
documented.
4. Dating any child, youth, or vulnerable adult
is forbidden.
5. Discretion must be used in dealing with all,
especially regarding physical contact.
Any overt display of affection should be
made in a public setting in front of others
and should respect the wishes of the
other person.
6. If a child, youth,
or vulnerable adult makes sexual gestures or overtures to a
minister it should be reported to the
minister’s supervisor so that discussion of this
behavior can be held with the child,
youth, or vulnerable adult.
7. The “Buddy System”
should be used by ministers whenever possible, especially when
children, youth, or vulnerable adults are
involved. Two adults or one adult and one
teen are required in all religious
education programs, classes and activities. This
includes all activities for children and
all youth ministry events and activities. Please
note, that an adult must always be
certain that all interaction/planning meetings with a
teen assistant/helper must take place in
public or in the presence of another adult or
teen. Teens helpers must always be supervised
by an adult that meets all Safe
Environment requirements.
8. One-to-one communication with a child,
youth, or vulnerable adult should occur in a
public setting.
9. Driving alone with a child, youth, or
vulnerable adult should be avoided at all times.
10.
Two adults should be present until all children/youth have left the
premises.
11. Never swear or use foul or abusive language
in the presence of those you serve in
ministry.
12. Never speak graphically about sexual
activities, including your own, and do not allow
others to do so.
13. Never show pornographic materials to those
you serve in ministry.
14. Never use your role to degrade, ridicule, or
threaten another person.
15. Never give children, youth, or vulnerable
adults tobacco, alcohol, or unauthorized
drugs.
16. Never allow children, youth, or vulnerable
adults to become sexual with one another
during ministry activities.
17.
Never invite or host children, youth, or vulnerable adults in your home
unless another
adult is present.
18. Never spank, shake, slap or physically punish
children, youth or vulnerable adults.
19. Never use, or be under
the influence of alcohol at any time while ministering to
children,
youth, or vulnerable adults.
20.
Never use, possess, or be under the influence of illegal drugs at any
time.
21.
Never wrestle with or tickle a child, youth, or vulnerable adult.
22.
All behavior
standards also apply to electronic media, including internet access,
email, chat rooms, and phone
conversations.
Unacceptable
behaviors:
•
Meeting alone in isolated places. •
Showing favoritism.
•
Physical contact that can be misinterpreted. •
Commenting on others’ bodies.
• Sexually provocative or revealing attire.
•
Meeting in homes without others present.
•
Being nude in front of children, youth, or vulnerable adults.
•
Sleeping in bed with children, youth, or vulnerable adults.
•
Failing to adhere to uniform or accepted standards of affection.
•
Taking pictures while others are dressing or showering.
Warning signs
in relationships between adults and children, youth, or vulnerable
adults:
• Spending extra
time grooming yourself when you know you’re going to see a certain
person.
• Finding ways or
reasons to be alone with a certain person.
• Keeping aspects
of your relationship with a person secret from others (such as how
often you talk on the phone or see each other
alone).
• Giving and
receiving special gifts from a certain person.
• Sharing
personal information or seeking help with personal problems from a certain
child, youth, or vulnerable adult.
• Fantasizing or
daydreaming about a certain person.
Inappropriate
displays of Affection in Ministry:
• Any form of
unwanted affection. • Kisses on the mouth
• Touching
bottoms, chests, or genital areas. •
Lying down or sleeping beside others.
• Massages. •
Patting others on the thigh, knee or leg.
•
Tickling or wrestling. •
Touching or hugging from behind.
• Games involving
inappropriate touching.
• Compliments
that relate to physique or body development.
• Showing
affection in isolated areas such as bedrooms, closets, restricted areas, or other
private rooms.
Remember part of your
responsibilities in ministry are to communicate when you have concerns about
others serving in your ministry as well as yourself.
Violations of The Code for Ministers, Employees, and
Volunteers which involve minors or vulnerable adults, are grounds for
disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
I have read and understand the above Code of Conduct
for Ministers, Employees, and Volunteers and
commit to uphold this code in my ministry.
Signature:
__________________________ Print Name: ________________________
Parish/School:
______________________________ Location: ___________________
Date:
__________________