The Diocese of Pittsburgh has created a Safe Environment policy for all adults who encounter children while volunteering at our parish. The purpose of this policy is to:
Take reasonable measures to assure that Church Personnel comply with all required certifications and background checks to permit the necessary assessment of suitability for contact with children with the purpose of providing a safe environment for children.*
As of May 1, 2008, the Diocese has explicitly defined the ministries whose members qualify as Church Personnel and must comply with the Safe Environment policy. They include the following:
- Bereavement Volunteer
- Cantor
- Catechist
- Child Care Giver
- Choir Member
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Lector/Reader
- Usher/Greeter/Minister of Hospitality
- Youth Ministry Volunteer
If you wish, you may read Bishop Zubik's letter to people required to join the database here.
N.B. Several of the requirements, such as the FBI report (fingerprinting) and the online training for mandated reporters, are required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The policy requirements are as follows:
All of the information above is available online at the diocesan website here (+). A list of links to essential documents may be found here (+). The Safe Environment Policy is available in PDF here.
If you have any questions regarding any of these requirements, please:
Contact: Debbie VanDemark, St. Scholastica Safe Environment Coordinator
Phone: (412) 781-0186 x10
Email: parish@saintscholastica.com
Thank you!
*From the Diocese of Pittsburgh, "Policy: Safe Environments for Children," Revised October 1, 2015.