Standard Operating Procedure
To Protect the Faithful in the Future
• 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.
The Diocese of Phoenix has made no agreement of any kind or promised to do anything not set forth in this procedure.