Background Certificates and Youth Protection Requirements

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 Office for Child and Youth Protection.

When completing the clearances and training, please use one of the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, 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. 

Clergy Requirements

Requirements for Clergy

Items required for all priests, deacons, deacon candidates, seminarians, members of religious communities and those in consecrated life. All clergy within the Diocese of Harrisburg are required to obtain clearances every 60 months (or every 5 years).

In addition, if a cleric comes to the Diocese of Harrisburg from outside the United States, he must obtain clearance from Interpol. Clergy from outside the Diocese of Harrisburg and from outside the Unites States, must also provide a letter from their bishop/superior attesting to their good standing and that they have never been the subject of a credible accusation of sexual abuse of a minor. The letter is necessary before the cleric will be given an assignment within the Diocese.

The following items are required. Click on each one for more information about that item.

Adult Employee Requirements

The following items are required for school, parish, Catholic Charities and all other adult employees. Click on each tab for more information about that item.

Adult School Employees

The following items are required for adult school employees. All employees of the Diocese or of any parish, school, institution, corporation, entity or agency affiliated with the Diocese of Harrisburg are required to obtain clearances every 60 months (or every 5 years).

Act 126 Professional Ethics & Educator Discipline Act Training
Additional Resources for Act 126

Adult Catholic Charities Employees

The following items are required for adult Catholic Charities employees. All employees of the Diocese or of any parish, school, institution, corporation, entity or agency affiliated with the Diocese of Harrisburg are required to obtain clearances every 60 months (or every 5 years).

Adult Parish and Other Adult Employees

The following items are required for adult parish and all other adult employees. All employees of the Diocese or of any parish, school, institution, corporation, entity or agency affiliated with the Diocese of Harrisburg are required to obtain clearances every 60 months (or every 5 years).

Minor Employee Requirements

The following items are required for school, parish and all other minor employees. Click on each tab for more information about that item.

Minor School Employees

The following items are required for minor school employees.

Minor Parish and Other Minor Employees

The following items are required for minor parish and all other minor employees.

Adult Volunteer Requirements

The following items are required for school, Catholic Charities, parish and all other adult volunteers. Click on each tab for more information about that item. All adult volunteers are required to obtain clearances every 60 months (or every 5 years).

Adult School Volunteers

The following items are required for adult school volunteers.

Adult Parish and Other Adult Volunteers

The following items are required for adult parish and all other adult volunteers.

Adult Catholic Charities Volunteers

The following items are required for adult Catholic Charities volunteers.

Minor Volunteer Requirements

The following items are required for all minor volunteers including those volunteering in schools, Catholic Charities, parishes and all other minor volunteers. Click on each for more information about that item.

Vendor Requirements

The following items are required for school, parish, Catholic Charities and all other vendors. Click on each tab for more information about that item. All vendors who have responsibility for the welfare of a child or have direct contact with children must hold clearances that are less than 60 months (or 5 years) old.

School Vendors

The following items are required for school vendors.

Act 126 Professional Ethics & Educator Discipline Act Training
Additional Resources for Act 126

Catholic Charities and Parish Vendors

The following items are required for Catholic Charities and parish vendors.

All Other Vendors

The following items are required for all other vendors.

Contacts

Kristin Weinoldt

Youth Protection Clearance Information

Office: 717-657-4804 x271

E-mail
PATCH Helpdesk

Pennsylvania Access to the Criminal History Check

PH: 1-888-783-7972

CWIS Support Center

Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance – Childline

PH: 1-877-343-0494

Michelle Shae

Director of the Office for Child and Youth Protection
Victim Assistance Coordinator

Office: 717-657-4804 x234

E-mail