Policies+for+Maintaining+Ethical+Ministry+with+Minors+-+2023+FINAL - Flipbook - Page 6
8. Required Procedures for Those Seeking Admission Into the District
a.
b.
Individuals who wish to join the District as part of the postulancy shall be required, prior to any indication of acceptance, to:
i. Provide personal information and history so as to allow for a criminal background check, including specific
screening for the sexual abuse of minors. The background check must include every state/county in which
the candidate has resided for the last seven years, a completed national sex offender registry check , and a
social-security-number trace and alias search. Criminal background checks for individuals from outside the
United States will be conducted to the best ability of the District
ii. Provide the District with three (3) documented personal references, including at least one from a family member
iii. Provide the District with two (2) professional references. These references shall include, when experience indicates, any professional experiences involving work with minors.
iv. Submit to a face to face interview(s) with at least two (2) different Brothers of the District
v. Participate in a psychological evaluation, including psycho-sexual history, by an appropriate licensed psychologist who understands the candidate is entering Catholic religious life that includes celibate chastity. The candidate must allow the psychologist to discuss the findings of the evaluation with the initial formation Director.
The requirements of Section 8(a)(i-iv) must be completed prior to involvement in any public ministry as a Candidate
of the District.
c.
The requirements of Section 8(a)(i-v) must be met prior to entry into the Novitiate.
d.
The information obtained through Section 8(a)(i-v) will be used to specifically screen individuals for a history of sexually abusing or violating the boundaries of minors.
e.
The District will review all publicly accessible content on all social media, personal blog sites, and web sites associated with accounts controlled by the individual seeking acceptance and will complete this review before the candidate
is allowed to engage in any public ministry..
f.
Because the cultural values of the United States are not universal, values assessment of an individual from a different
cultural background will include evaluation of the individual’s ability to adapt to the cultural requirements of ministry
in the United States.
g.
An individual cannot be permitted to begin formation as a Postulant of the District if he:
i. Has an established 1 allegation of sexually abusing a minor; or
ii. Has acquired or intentionally viewed child pornography.
A Brother who has taken annual vows or a postulant or novice cannot be allowed to continue in formation if he:
i. Is unable to maintain appropriate boundaries with minors despite guidelines and instruction;
ii. Sexually abuses a minor or acquires or intentionally views child pornography while in formation; or
iii. Is discovered to have sexually abused a minor or intentionally acquired or viewed child pornography prior to his
acceptance into formation.
Vocation Directors and Formation Directors shall receive adequate training to identify candidates who may be at risk
for sexually abusing a minor.
h.
i.
j.
Initial formation programs will assist candidates in their ongoing growth toward healthy sexuality as part of their
formation for celibate chastity.
k.
All Postulants, Novices, or Brothers who have not already done so will participate in at least one educational program,
which will include information on the following topics:
i. Self-protection from false allegations of sexual abuse, including what to do when a Brother is concerned about
being falsely accused;
ii. Preferential and situational type sexual offenders: Materials will be provided stating warning signs associated
with both types of offenders;
iii. Child pornography, including its nature as a criminal offense and an offense considered under the USCCB document, Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (“Charter”)
iv. Abuse of vulnerable adults, including its nature as an offense considered under the Charter;
1
An allegation is established when, based upon the facts and the circumstances, there is objective certainty that the accusation is true and that an incident
of sexual abuse has occurred according to Praesidium’s Instruments of Hope and Healing Standards for Accreditation (“Standards”), “Glossary of Terms.” The
Standards add an explanatory note to this term: “Established Allegation is not based upon a “preponderance of the evidence,” i.e. more likely to be true than not,
which may be established by 51 % or more of the evidence. Established Allegation is in keeping with the canonical standard of “moral certitude’’ which states that
major superior recognizes that the contrary (that the allegation is false) may be possible, but is highly unlikely or so improbable, that the major superior has no
substantive fear that the allegation is false.”
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