Decree on Child Protection
The Diocese of Steubenville Decree on Child Protection was recently revised, and the new Decree went into effect on October 2, 2009. All employees as well as all regular volunteers who work with youth in the Diocese of Steubenville must attend an orientation workshop on the provisions of the Decree. Click to learn more about the decree and background checks.
All employees and regular volunteers who have direct contact with children at St. Mary Catholic School must complete acceptable criminal background checks through fingerprinting in accord with the current policies of the Diocese of Steubenville – Decree on Child Protection; and may not have contact with children until acceptable background checks through fingerprinting are completed. All employees and regular volunteers must complete both a Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal records check every five years. For auxiliary service personnel such as school nurses, psychologists etc., who are government employees or subject to state regulations, the school Principal shall obtain copies of both a Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal records check every five years, from the employer of auxiliary service personnel.
“Because of the serious nature of child abuse, the law imposes obligations on many, and affords protection for all, in the reporting of known or suspected child abuse. It is the expectation that all who are subject to the Decree shall promptly alert the civil authorities and cooperate with them in good faith whenever there are allegations of child abuse, or acts of child abuse are known or suspected, unless to do so would violate a sacred trust (i.e. Sacrament of Penance) or an established legal privilege. The report is to be made to civil authorities without preliminary screening, investigation, or judgment by the person who is mandated by law to make the report.”
– Decree on Child Protection