Scouts-L Mail Archive for November of 1998: Reply regarding background checks in Catholic Church sponsored

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I am the chaplain for Troop 1283 and the pack committee chairman for =
Pack 1283, both of which are sponsored by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton =
Catholic Church (Houston, TX) in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. =
Because of the successful high profile lawsuits against the various =
dioceses in Texas, most of these diocese (including ours) now require an =
"Informational Questionnaire", "Acknowledgement Form", and "Release of =
Information Form" to be filled out by any adult (volunteer or paid) who =
as part of their job comes into regular contact with youth (under 18 =
years old). The "Acknowledgement Form" acknowledges that the person in =
question has reviewed, understands, and agrees to abide by the "Diocesan =
Policies on Ethical and Personal Conduct" This is a 14 page document in =
our diocese that all such persons are suppose to read. The =
"Informational Form" asks for references, criminal history information, =
etc.=20

I have heard from several sources that this policy is often ignored, not =
completely, but in part. For example, often only the head full time =
administrator of a program is required to fill these forms out. For =
example, a CCE director, not each teacher. OR CCE director and teachers, =
but not their assistants. My own experience is that the Catholic Church =
is a Risk Management disaster when it comes to these issues (and that is =
being said by someone who loves this church!)

Our own situation at St. Elizabeth is that the full time paid Youth =
Minister, under which Boy Scouting, Cub Scouting, Girl Scouting, and =
Venturing are just a few of many programs, is the one who has completed =
these forms. None of the unit leaders has yet been required to do this, =
even thought the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting and the =
Diocesan Risk Management Committee has informed me that all such leaders =
should be filling out these forms. We've pointed this problem out to =
parish staff. But we will follow our parish policy until we hear =
different from the Youth Minister, parish administrator, or pastor.

Good luck!!!! And get your guys working on their Ad Altarei Dei =
emblems!!!!

YiS,

Jay Gause

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I am the chaplain for Troop 1283 and the pack committee chairman for = Pack=20 1283, both of which are sponsored by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic = Church=20 (Houston, TX) in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. Because of the = successful=20 high profile lawsuits against the various dioceses in Texas, most of = these=20 diocese (including ours) now require an "Informational = Questionnaire",=20 "Acknowledgement Form", and "Release of Information = Form" to=20 be filled out by any adult (volunteer or paid) who as part of their job = comes=20 into regular contact with youth (under 18 years old). The = "Acknowledgement=20 Form" acknowledges that the person in question has reviewed, = understands,=20 and agrees to abide by the "Diocesan Policies on Ethical and = Personal=20 Conduct" This is a 14 page document in our diocese that all such = persons=20 are suppose to read. The "Informational Form" asks for = references,=20 criminal history information, etc.

I have heard from several sources that this policy is often ignored, = not=20 completely, but in part. For example, often only the head full time=20 administrator of a program is required to fill these forms out. For = example, a=20 CCE director, not each teacher. OR CCE director and teachers, but not = their=20 assistants. My own experience is that the Catholic Church is a Risk = Management=20 disaster when it comes to these issues (and that is being said by = someone who=20 loves this church!)

Our own situation at St. Elizabeth is that the full time paid Youth = Minister,=20 under which Boy Scouting, Cub Scouting, Girl Scouting, and Venturing are = just a=20 few of many programs, is the one who has completed these forms. None of = the unit=20 leaders has yet been required to do this, even thought the Diocesan = Catholic=20 Committee on Scouting and the Diocesan Risk Management Committee has = informed me=20 that all such leaders should be filling out these forms. We've pointed = this=20 problem out to parish staff. But we will follow our parish policy until = we hear=20 different from the Youth Minister, parish administrator, or pastor.

Good luck!!!! And get your guys working on their Ad Altarei Dei=20 emblems!!!!

YiS,

Jay Gause

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