Policies+for+Maintaining+Ethical+Ministry+with+Minors+-+2023+FINAL - Flipbook - Page 7
v. The requirements and procedures for reporting boundary violations, misconduct, harassment, and abuse to the
proper criminal, civil, and ecclesiastical authorities.”
vi. Information on recognizing and responding to boundary violations or any other inappropriate behaviors with
minors
vii. Information about images of child abuse, including its nature as a criminal offense and as a grave delict considered under Motu propio, “Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (SST).”
viii.Information regarding abuse of vulnerable persons, including its nature as an offense under the Motu propio,
“Vos Estis Lux Mundi”
9. Systems of Support Within the District for the Brothers
a.
The District will identify and utilize systems of support and accountability for Brothers. The Brother Visitor will be able
to describe these systems and demonstrate on-going adherence to them.
b.
The District and its leadership will provide support to, and contact with, all of its members on a regular basis. District
and local leadership will make themselves as available as possible to hear the needs and request of their Brothers.
c.
Brother Visitor or his Auxiliary Visitor will annually visit with each Brother in the District, including those who are living
outside of the specific community structure of the District.
d.
The District will maintain a list of Brothers who are living outside of the specific community structure of the District.
An individualized system of support and accountability will be implemented for each such Brother. If it is not possible
to implement such systems, the Brother will resume living within the community structure of the District.
e.
If a Brother living outside the specific community structure of the District will not conform to an individual system of
support and accountability, or resume living within that structure, the Brother Visitor will use canonical procedures
to encourage the Brother to resume living within that structure or in conformity with an individual system of support
and accountability. The Brother Visitor may consider restrictions on the Brother’s lifestyle, limitations on financial
support, limitations on the Brother’s ministry, and penalties in accord with the norm of law, including dismissal.
f.
For Brothers who are employed in any organization or in public ministry outside of the specific ministries of the District, the Brother Visitor will communicate annually with the appropriate authority of the organization, will document
the communication in some form, and will provide the contact information of the Brother Visitor to the appropriate
authority.
g.
When a Member of another religious institute begins his candidacy to become a Brother of the District, the Member
becomes subject to the Brother Visitor and is required to adhere to this Policy and the District’s systems of support
and accountability.
h.
Religious from other provinces or institutes, or diocesan clergy, may reside in a house or community of the District
with the permission of the Brother Visitor and their own Major Superiors or diocesan bishops. These individuals must
adhere to, and meet the requirements of, this Policy in the same manner as Brothers of the District.
i.
A Brother who discloses to any other Brother an unhealthy attraction to minors or an inability to respect boundaries
with minors will be offered professional assistance by the District. The Brother Visitor is to be informed of the matter
in each case.
SECTION B
PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING ABUSE OF MINORS
1. Reporting of Sexual Abuse
a.
b.
c.
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Brothers must report known or suspected sexual abuse by a Brother of the District to the Brother Visitor.2
Brothers must also report known or suspected abuse of an individual who is currently a minor to the appropriate civil
authority in the state where the abuse is alleged to have occurred in compliance and with Praesidium’s Instruments
of Hope and Healing Standards for Accreditation (“Standards”).
The Brother Visitor will report known or suspected sexual abuse of an individual who is currently a minor to the ap-
If the Visitor is suspected or known to have committed abuse, a report shall be made to the Superior General.
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