The following must obtain background certificates per State and Diocesan Youth Protection Program (i.e. policy) requirements: Priests, Deacons, Deacon Candidates, Seminarians, those in Consecrated Life, Adult Employees, Minor Employees (ages 14-17), Adult Volunteers who have care, supervision, guidance or control and have routine interaction with children and Vendors who provide care, supervision, guidance or control or have routine interaction with children.
For more details on how to obtain background certificate applications and complete the Diocese’s youth protection requirements, please select the role (below) which best describes your function in the Diocese. If you are an employee in the Diocese and also volunteer with youth, please select the role associated with your employment function. All background checks are completed by the listed agency, with the support of the Diocesan Youth Protection Office.
When completing the clearances and training, please use one of the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox.
Please be aware, if a background certification or clearance reveals a prior conviction or other legal concern, the question of suitability for ministry, employment or volunteer work will be considered carefully. At issue is not only the nature of the previous offense and when it occurred, but also its relevance to the proposed job description for the applicant or volunteer. At all times, the results of each person’s background certification and clearances will be treated with extreme confidentiality. If the screening of any person reveals a prior history of criminal activity, the Diocesan Vicar, Secretary, or pastor is to consult with the Program Director before the person assumes any employment or volunteer position. A school principal is to direct the matter to the Diocesan Secretary for Education, who will discuss it with the
Program Director. A prior criminal conviction of any kind may exclude a person from any employment or volunteer service, which involves more than a sporadic and infrequent contact with minors, unless exceptional circumstances strongly suggest otherwise.
