| It’s Everyone’s Responsibility
to Protect God’s Children St. Blase, along with all other churches
in the Archdiocese of Detroit, is committed to providing safe environments for
children and youth. During the past three years, we’ve offered a special
workshop called “Protecting God’s Children” and have required catechists
and others to file
a “Criminal History Background Check Form.” In
accord with the Archdiocese, the time has come to implement a new policy so that
children everywhere can be kept safe. This is not just for catechists anymore.
It is even for persons who minister only once a year at MCREST or Summer Circle.
Attending a “Protecting God’s
Children” Workshop:
You may register two ways. If you have internet access,
go to www.virtus.org.
Find a date and a session that suit your schedule. Sessions
held at St. Blase will be publicized in advance in The
Flame Bulletin. Click on “registration”
in the left column. Then, follow the instructions. You
will have to create a User ID and Password for the virtus
site. For a User ID, we suggest your name in all lowercase
(such as marysmith) and for a password, just your last
name (smith).
If you do not have internet access, the parish office
can go online to register you. Please complete the
form found in The Flame and return it. Also, please
mark your calendars. No further reminders will be sent.
*** If these dates are not convenient for you, you can
attend the “Protecting God’s Workshop”
at any parish in the Archdiocese—just register in
the same manner as above and
file a copy of your certificate with the parish office.
| Therefore,
by June of 2007, in accordance with the Archdiocese, it will be mandatory that
all persons, ages 16 and older that minister in any of the following groups listed
below, be required to: - Complete a “Criminal
History Background Check Form”
- Receive a “Volunteer
Code of Conduct”.
- Participate in a “Protecting God’s
Children Workshop” offered anywhere (Office will require you to bring in
a copy of your certificate if you’ve attended offsite.)
- Note: Volunteers
ages 16 to 18 are required to have parental permission to attend the workshop
and to have a criminal history background check.
These are just
some of the groups that must complete the requirements above by June of 2007 in
order to continue in their ministries: - Babysitters
- VIP
Choir, Remnant Choir, Teens Loving Christ members & Musicians
- Kingdom
Chorus Parents & Musicians
- Summer Circle Volunteers
- Catechists,
Aides and Assistants
- U.N.I.T.Y. Youth Team
- CLW Ministers
- Knights
of Columbus
- Circle of Families & their teens age 16 and older
- MCREST
Volunteers
- Warming Center Volunteers
- Altar Server Coordinator
Persons
strongly urged to attend the “Protecting God’s Workshop”:
- Scout Leaders
- ALL PARENTS, GUARDIANS or GRANDPARENTS
While
several of these groups seemingly do not involve children, a closer look at activities
shows otherwise. Choirs gather together several times during the year for special
liturgies; Knights of Columbus sponsors a family Christmas Party; MCREST &
Warming Center may include children participants; etc. CLICK HERE for a
PDF reprint of the Code of Pastoral Conduct For
Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff and Volunteers
from the Archdiocese of Detroit. CLICK HERE for a PDF reprint of the Criminal
Background Check Authorization Form available from the Archidiocese of Detroit. |
