Protecting God's Children
The Diocesan Policy, Protecting God’s Children, requires every volunteer working with
children under the age of 16 to:
- be familiar with the Diocesan Policy on Sexual Abuse and sign the Code of Pastoral Conduct.
- attend a workshop entitled Protecting God’s Children
- be fingerprinted for a criminal background check conducted by the State Police
This is not an optional policy, which a parish can choose to participate in or not. It is required that every
church volunteer and employee partake in the 3-fold policy listed above. We have already had several workshops and
fingerprinting sessions encompassing over 1,000 parishioners. We now must now be 100% compliant with all of our
school parents, religious education personnel, CYO, and all adults working with confirmation, youth, and
children’s ministries.
IMPORTANT - Volunteers or employees working with children in our parish may not begin
work until all three requirements are met. Physical evidence of compliance with each item must be on file
in our parish office before you can be cleared to work:
- a signed Code of Conduct
- a certificate of attendance at a workshop
- a clearance letter from a background check
If you should have any questions or concerns on your status as a volunteer in any of our church programs
please contact me directly.
Fr. Joseph Davis
Pastor
DIRECTIONS:
Code of Pastoral Conduct: Read it, sign it, and return the signature page (page 9) to the rectory.
Protecting God’s Children Workshop: Pre-registration is necessary To register go online to
www.virtus.org and click on Registration. We are part of the
Diocese of Paterson. Choose a workshop location offered at nearby parishes. Get a certificate of attendance upon
completion of the course and forward the copy to the rectory so we can make record of your attendance.
Fingerprinting/Criminal Background Check: Fingerprinting is NO LONGER done by the local police
departments. This process has been subcontracted to a firm called Morpho Trak Inc. Obtain a Universal
Fingerprint Form specific to St. Therese. All directions for completing the form and having your prints
taken are included with the form.
Site Based Policy for Volunteers only: If you have been fingerprinted for a criminal background check by another
agency or employer within the last three years, you may ask the other agency or employer to forward to the parish
office a copy of the clearance letter. As long as it is dated within three years it will be accepted and you will
not have to be background checked at this time. NOTE: A valid nurses license is also accepted.
FORMS:
Code of Pastoral Conduct - Review and sign page 9
Criminal Background Check Instructions
Morpho Trak Universal Fingerprint Form - Parish Employee
Morpho Trak Universal Fingerprint Form - Volunteer
Morpho Trak Universal Fingerprint Form - Saint Therese School Teacher
Fingerprinting/Background Check Reimbursement Form
ChoicePoint Disclosure Consent – use this form only if directed to do so
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