Promise To Protect,

Pledge To Heal

August 2009
 A Prayer For Healing
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always
just: You gave us your only Son to save us by the blood of his cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to your own suffering the pain of
all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who
betrayed the trust placed in them.

Hear our cries as we agonize over the harm done to our brothers and
sisters. Breathe wisdom into our prayers, soothe restless hearts with
hope, steady shaken spirits with faith: Show us the way to justice and
wholeness, enlightened by truth and enfolded in your mercy.

Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds and

transform our brokenness. Grant us courage and wisdom, humility and
grace, so that we may act with justice and find peace in you.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans will ensure
that children who worship, study, and
participate in activities sponsored by the
Archdiocese can do so in the safest and
most secure setting possible.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans will
cooperate with parents, civil authorities,
educators, and community organizations to
provide education and training for children,
youth, parents, ministers, educators, and
others about ways to make and maintain a
safe environment for children.
The Archdiocese will make clear to clergy
and members of the community the
standards of conduct for clergy and other
persons in positions of trust with regard to
sexual abuse.
(Article 12, Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People)

http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/charter.shtml
Under the Charter, the Archdiocese of New Orleans
does all of the following

Established age-appropriate safe environment

training for children

Training is offered to the children

The Archdiocese provides the training

We provide forms for documentation

to ensure training has taken place

http://www.arch-no.org/
1.Each person is uniquely made in the
image and likeness of God.

God is love.

Each person is made in the image of

love and created to act in love.

Our bodies are sacred and holy.

2. God lives in community which we call
Trinity.

Persons are created to live in community.

The smallest and most intimate of which is

family.

Family, in God’s image, respects and

cherishes the uniqueness and life of each of
its members. The Church and school are
partners with the family in educating,
nurturing and protecting children.
3. Each person has dignity and must be
treated with respect. We show our respect
in our language, behavior, and interactions
with each other.

Caring and concern and empathy for each

other must be a hallmark of our lives as
followers of Jesus. Because of the dignity of
each person, our right to respect includes the
right to privacy, especially privacy for our
own bodies.
4. Touch is an integral part of being
human. Touch can be safe, unsafe or
unwanted. Safe touch, appropriate
physical affection, is that kind of touch
which is good for the person’s body,
makes one feel cared for, loved and
important.

Unsafe and unwanted touch makes a

person feel uncomfortable and unhappy.
5. God has blessed every person with the
gift of choice.

Some bad choices affect a number of

people negatively. Suffering, which is not
willed by God and is not the fault of
innocent persons, is the result of those
bad choices.
6. Some actions or behaviors are wrong.

Some actions or behaviors between adults,

between adults and children and between
children are wrong.

Behavior that harms self or others physically,

psychologically, emotionally, or spiritually is
wrong.
7. There are good secrets and bad
secrets.

There is good play and bad play.

We can share good secrets and good play

experiences and we must avoid bad
secrets and bad experiences.
8. Good and loving human relationships
and friendships can help us understand
ourselves, God and others. Some people
misuse friendship and harm others.
9. Every person has the right to be safe.
Children have the right to be protected from
anything and anyone who may harm them.
Adults have the responsibility to make the
environment in which children live as safe as
possible. That includes teaching children and
young people proper, adequate coping and
safety skills which will enable them to be safe
and healthy.

http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC60.pdf

See Missing & Exploited Children Handout

10. Parents and teachers have the
responsibility to assist children to identify
a number of people in their lives to whom
they can talk openly and honestly.

Children must be taught that if help is not

received to keep telling other trusted
adults until someone helps them.
Policy Concerning Abuse or Neglect of Minors
Archdiocese of New Orleans
July 1, 2003

Questionnaire

Acknowledges personnel have received and

read “The Policy Concerning Abuse and
Neglect of Minors of the Archdiocese of New
Orleans” , revised July 2003

Prospective Employees or Volunteers who will have

regular contact with minors must complete this
form once.
Agreement of adult to conduct himself/herself in
accordance with the above mentioned policy.
 Background Check

• Volunteer or Employee Background Check Disclosure &

Authorization Form.

• Gives permission to conduct the background check and

disclose information to the parish, school, office,
agency.

• Disclosed information is kept on file in the parish,

school, office, or agency in a secure place.

• Information is kept on file permanently and the

background check must be conducted every three years.
ALL EMPLOYEES and VOLUNTEERS MUST BE SCREENED
IN FALL OF 2007.
Supervisory personnel within the Archdiocese of
New Orleans evaluate the results of the
background investigation.

-Pastor

-Director of the department,

agency, institution, or related
entity.

-Confidential; permanent record

Policy Concerning Abuse or Neglect of Minors, July 1, 2003 V. #3 & 4
 What constitutes child abuse?
Sexual abuse:
includes sexual molestation or sexual exploitation of a minor
and other behavior by which an adult uses a minor as an
object of sexual gratification.

Other Physical Abuse:

The infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury or, as
a result of inadequate supervision, the allowance of physical
injury to a minor.
Corporal punishment is not to be administered to any child
or young person in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Principles of Ethics and Integrity in Ministry, p. 14

Neglect:
The refusal or willful failure by a caretaker to provide for a
minor the proper or necessary medical care, nutrition, or
other care necessary for a minor’s well-being.

See Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana Handout

Actions, procedures, and policies used to
prevent child abuse in the Archdiocese of
New Orleans:

Education, training required for clergy,

ministers, educators, parents
volunteers, church personnel and all
adults who have regular contact with
minors in the Archdiocese

• Policy Concerning Abuse or Neglect of

Minors, July 1, 2003

• Principles of Ethics and Integrity in

Ministry: Code of Ethics
 The exploitation of children has
unfortunately become a “growth
industry,” according to FBI
Director Robert S. Mueller, III,
but the Bureau is “working every
day to find and stop those who
prey on our children.”

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/august08/cac_082208.
html
 Principles of
Ethics and Integrity in Ministry:
CODE OF ETHICS

December 5, 2003
In the interest of protecting minors,
Church personnel are prohibited from:

Emotional Abuse:
A. Being intoxicated or using or possessing illegal
drugs while in the presence of minors.

B. Using profanity in the presence of minor.

C. Speaking to minors in a way that is or could be

reasonable construed by any observer as harsh,
threatening, intimidating, shaming, derogatory,
demeaning, or humiliating.
 In the interest of protecting minors, Church personnel are
prohibited from: (continued)

Sexual Abuse:
A. Discussing their own sexual activities with minors.

B. Engaging in any sexually oriented conversations with minors unless

the conversations are part of a legitimate lesson and discussion for
teenagers regarding human sexuality issues. On such occasions, the
lessons will convey to youth the Church’s teachings on these topics.
If youth have further questions not answered or addressed by the
individual teachers they should be referred to their parents or
guardians for clarification or counseling.

C. Being nude in the presence of minors.

D. Possessing sexually oriented or morally inappropriate printed

materials (magazines, cards, videos, films, clothing, etc…).

E. Sleeping in the same beds, sleeping bags or small tents with minors
unless the adult is an immediate family member of the minor.
 Standards of the Archdiocese
As to Physical Contact with Minors

Principles of
Ethics and Integrity in Ministry:
CODE OF ETHICS

December 5, 2003

Pages 14 - 15
Identifying an adult who may be
abusing a minor . . .

• An adult who is more comfortable around

children than persons his/her age.

• An adult who, although subtle, is consistent in

giving attention and small gifts to a particular
child.

• An adult who hangs around school yards and play

areas without appropriate reasons.

http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/children_safe
ty.shtml
Laws and Policies regarding the reporting
of abuse of a minor . . .

Louisiana Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Law

(LS.A.,RS. 14:403; LA. Children’s Code Arts. 601 – 616)
Addendum 4

Policy Concerning Abuse or Neglect of Minors, July 1, 2003

See LA Code Handout

Principles of Ethics and Integrity in

Ministry: Code of Ethics

Abuse Reporting Form for LA

http://www.dss.state.la.us/assets/docs/se
archable/OCS/CPI-2.pdf
Action to be taken by an adult when they believe
a minor is being abused by those who serve the
Archdiocese

Policy Concerning Abuse or Neglect of Minors, July 1, 2003

VI – X pages 3 – 8

9 OBLIGATION TO REPORT
Must comply with state, local, and federal laws
9 Must report suspected abuse IMMEDIATELY TO THE
PROPER AUTHORITIES

Verbal report - immediately – to their Supervisor who will

report to the Executive Director of Department

Written report – Addendum 3 (yellow)

to Executive Director – by person who initially received the
report or learned of abuse or neglect

Consultation with Archdiocesan Attorney – regarding

fulfillment of requirements under this policy and LA law
 Training for Children and Youth
• Include age appropriate materials pertaining to
personal safety.

• Information about improper touching and

relationships.

• How children and youth can seek assistance from a

trusted adult.

• Children and youth in Catholic Schools and Parish

Religious Education Programs are to receive the
same basic training in the school or parish. Some
parish programs may have to be modified due to
time constraints.
 Training for Children and Youth
a PARENT can refuse the Safe Environment training

FOUR CONDITIONS MUST BE MET:

• Archdiocese must offer the training to the child
• Safe Environment training material must be provided to
the parent
• Parent must state in writing: (1) training was offered to
their child; (2) that they refused to allow their child to
participate in the training; (3) that they have received
the training materials
• This document must be maintained by the archdiocese for
accountability
TRAINING FOR PARENTS

Multiple delivery methods:

– Formal training sessions

– Information posted on the Archdiocese

of New Orleans web-site.

– Notices sent home from principal, DRE,

or director of the youth group.
What must be sent to the Archdiocese

The Safe Environment Employee and

Volunteer Training Form (with signatures)

2009 – 20010 PARISH and SCHOOL

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORTS

Written statements from parents who have

refused the training
MEDIA

ALL media contacts are made by the

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS.
 Due to the dynamic nature of
parish life and personnel
turnover, the safe
environment program will be
incorporated into the long-
term mission of the
Archdiocese of New Orleans.

All new employees, volunteers, and all

who have regular contact with minors are
to receive “safe environment” training and
adhere to the codes of conduct of the
Archdiocese of New Orleans.