Safe Environment Program
A program to protect the vulnerable of the Diocese of Sacramento
January 10, 2017
Members of Knights of Columbus Blessed Sacrament Council 5322
Dear Brother Knight,
On Monday, January 8th , I and several Grand Knights of the councils in the Sacramento area, along with Chapter and State Office members, met with Michael J. O'Connor, Supreme Secretary, and Brian Gedicks, Associate General Counsel from Supremes’ Legal Department, to discuss the Diocese of Sacramento's "Safe Environment Program" and its requirements on the Knights of Columbus within the Diocese. While some Brothers of our council already understand the requirements, I believe it is imperative that all Brothers have the same awareness because you will be required to adhere to the requirements or choose to opt out of certain parish and Knight Activities. First, some background.
For years, the Knights of Columbus, through the Supreme Office, has carried out a safe environment program for the protection of youth and young people. During the years, Supreme has suspended men from the Order's membership when those men failed to honor their oath to live as "Catholic gentlemen." Today, council Grand Knights and Youth Directors are required to take a safe environment-training program. In addition, the Youth Directors are required to undergo a background search for criminal information.
In 2002, the United States Conference of Bishops adopted a "Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People," acknowledging sexual abuse of children and young people by priests and bishops. The Charter includes several articles that outline the problems and sets forth several actions that dioceses and eparchies will take to address this abuse, ensure accountability, and protect children and young people in the future. Although the initial Charter appeared to only address sexual abuse by priests and bishops, the 2011 edition of the Charter is more explicit, stating that a diocese/eparchies safe environment program will have clear and well publicized standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy, paid personnel and volunteers of the Church in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. The Charter empowers each bishop to establish and carry out its safe environment program. Along with that authority, the Charter allows a bishop to define "regular contact."
In meetings with Diocese representatives, they have stated that four or five Knights of Columbus members in the Diocese have been removed from their parish ministries because they are found to be "unfit" for the ministries. We were told; at least one of those Knights was a convicted sex offender. However, the details are sketchy as to whether the Knights' offenses were committed while performing a Knight of Columbus activity or parish ministry. The Supreme representatives indicated they would pursue this matter for greater clarification.
With this background, a written "Memorandum of Understanding between the Knights of Columbus and Diocese of Sacramento Regarding Safe Environment Requirements," signed by the Supreme Secretary and the Chancellor of the Diocese of Sacramento states:
"...members (of the Knights of Columbus) who wish to volunteer in parish activities and/or Knights of Columbus activities on parish property must comply with all such diocese requirements."
Based on clarification from the Supreme representatives, the requirements apply if a Knight is participating in any Knight function on parish property, including Coffee & Donuts, pancake breakfast or other social gathering. However, the requirements do not apply if a Knight only attends a Council meeting held on parish grounds.
The Diocese's safe environment requirements are twofold: (1) take the Shield of Vulnerable Training--available online or group training classes at no cost; and (2) Live Scan fingerprinting, which if performed in a group setting, will cost the individual $10-12. Note that once fingerprinted, your fingerprint information may be retained by the Diocese for up to five years after you cease volunteering at the parish. Also, note that even though you may have your fingerprints on file with the Department of Justice for another purpose; e.g., military, law enforcement, or teaching, unless fingerprinted for Diocese purposes, you must be fingerprinted under the Diocese program.
Undoubtedly, many of you may have additional questions. You are welcome to call me and I will attempt to answer them. The Supreme representatives have asked we give prayerful and thoughtful consideration to the Diocese requirements. Remember, as Knights, we are in solidarity with our bishops and priests. If we do not agree to the requirements, our charitable hours to the church will be significantly affected. Nonetheless, the representatives stated that each individual—each Knight—must make his own decision. Participation in these new requirements is voluntary. If your decision is to not participate in these requirements, that decision will not have any effect on membership in the Knights of Columbus or participation in the Knights Insurance Program and your decision will be respected.
You may be asking if these new requirements will prevent the abuse of children and the answer is: possibly. But if we don't accept these new requirements, as a sign of the times, and uphold them, the answer is a definite NO. The additional training by all volunteers will make us more aware of potential need of assistance or the threat of danger for the youth. Again, I encourage you to join me in adopting the Bishop's request, but the final decision is yours.
As part of the agreement between the Diocese and Supreme, I must provide the St. John Vianney Safe Environment Coordinator a list of council members who have or will complete the Diocese's requirements. An initial list is due February 1, 2017. By March 1, 2017, I must provide the Coordinator a list of those members who have completed the requirements; after which you cannot participate in parish or Knights functions until you have completed the requirements.
One final thought, if you decide not to complete the Diocese requirement and, thereby, not be allowed to serve as a parish volunteer minister or assist at any Knights function on the parish property, please be respectful to the Bishop and not "show up" at a Knights function and put our pastor in a difficult situation.
Members of Knights of Columbus Blessed Sacrament Council 5322
Dear Brother Knight,
On Monday, January 8th , I and several Grand Knights of the councils in the Sacramento area, along with Chapter and State Office members, met with Michael J. O'Connor, Supreme Secretary, and Brian Gedicks, Associate General Counsel from Supremes’ Legal Department, to discuss the Diocese of Sacramento's "Safe Environment Program" and its requirements on the Knights of Columbus within the Diocese. While some Brothers of our council already understand the requirements, I believe it is imperative that all Brothers have the same awareness because you will be required to adhere to the requirements or choose to opt out of certain parish and Knight Activities. First, some background.
For years, the Knights of Columbus, through the Supreme Office, has carried out a safe environment program for the protection of youth and young people. During the years, Supreme has suspended men from the Order's membership when those men failed to honor their oath to live as "Catholic gentlemen." Today, council Grand Knights and Youth Directors are required to take a safe environment-training program. In addition, the Youth Directors are required to undergo a background search for criminal information.
In 2002, the United States Conference of Bishops adopted a "Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People," acknowledging sexual abuse of children and young people by priests and bishops. The Charter includes several articles that outline the problems and sets forth several actions that dioceses and eparchies will take to address this abuse, ensure accountability, and protect children and young people in the future. Although the initial Charter appeared to only address sexual abuse by priests and bishops, the 2011 edition of the Charter is more explicit, stating that a diocese/eparchies safe environment program will have clear and well publicized standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy, paid personnel and volunteers of the Church in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people. The Charter empowers each bishop to establish and carry out its safe environment program. Along with that authority, the Charter allows a bishop to define "regular contact."
In meetings with Diocese representatives, they have stated that four or five Knights of Columbus members in the Diocese have been removed from their parish ministries because they are found to be "unfit" for the ministries. We were told; at least one of those Knights was a convicted sex offender. However, the details are sketchy as to whether the Knights' offenses were committed while performing a Knight of Columbus activity or parish ministry. The Supreme representatives indicated they would pursue this matter for greater clarification.
With this background, a written "Memorandum of Understanding between the Knights of Columbus and Diocese of Sacramento Regarding Safe Environment Requirements," signed by the Supreme Secretary and the Chancellor of the Diocese of Sacramento states:
"...members (of the Knights of Columbus) who wish to volunteer in parish activities and/or Knights of Columbus activities on parish property must comply with all such diocese requirements."
Based on clarification from the Supreme representatives, the requirements apply if a Knight is participating in any Knight function on parish property, including Coffee & Donuts, pancake breakfast or other social gathering. However, the requirements do not apply if a Knight only attends a Council meeting held on parish grounds.
The Diocese's safe environment requirements are twofold: (1) take the Shield of Vulnerable Training--available online or group training classes at no cost; and (2) Live Scan fingerprinting, which if performed in a group setting, will cost the individual $10-12. Note that once fingerprinted, your fingerprint information may be retained by the Diocese for up to five years after you cease volunteering at the parish. Also, note that even though you may have your fingerprints on file with the Department of Justice for another purpose; e.g., military, law enforcement, or teaching, unless fingerprinted for Diocese purposes, you must be fingerprinted under the Diocese program.
Undoubtedly, many of you may have additional questions. You are welcome to call me and I will attempt to answer them. The Supreme representatives have asked we give prayerful and thoughtful consideration to the Diocese requirements. Remember, as Knights, we are in solidarity with our bishops and priests. If we do not agree to the requirements, our charitable hours to the church will be significantly affected. Nonetheless, the representatives stated that each individual—each Knight—must make his own decision. Participation in these new requirements is voluntary. If your decision is to not participate in these requirements, that decision will not have any effect on membership in the Knights of Columbus or participation in the Knights Insurance Program and your decision will be respected.
You may be asking if these new requirements will prevent the abuse of children and the answer is: possibly. But if we don't accept these new requirements, as a sign of the times, and uphold them, the answer is a definite NO. The additional training by all volunteers will make us more aware of potential need of assistance or the threat of danger for the youth. Again, I encourage you to join me in adopting the Bishop's request, but the final decision is yours.
As part of the agreement between the Diocese and Supreme, I must provide the St. John Vianney Safe Environment Coordinator a list of council members who have or will complete the Diocese's requirements. An initial list is due February 1, 2017. By March 1, 2017, I must provide the Coordinator a list of those members who have completed the requirements; after which you cannot participate in parish or Knights functions until you have completed the requirements.
One final thought, if you decide not to complete the Diocese requirement and, thereby, not be allowed to serve as a parish volunteer minister or assist at any Knights function on the parish property, please be respectful to the Bishop and not "show up" at a Knights function and put our pastor in a difficult situation.