Introduction:

This page is intended to be a summary of the Safe Environment Policy required at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in accord with Particular Canon Law for the United States, the Policies of the Diocese of Columbus and circumstances particular to the parish. Duration of service does not mitigate compliance with this policy.

Compliance:

The following employees and volunteers must be in compliance with the Safe Environment Program:

• All clergy and paid employees
• All adult volunteers who have contact with minor aged children. This includes, but is not limited to, PSR (Parish School of Religion) instructors and class room aids, Vacation Bible School volunteers, Youth Group leaders and adult volunteers involved in youth group activities, members of parish affiliations and organizations who sponsor activities for minor aged children, etc. 

Compliance Requirements:

(All the following must be completed to be considered in compliance).

1. Completion of the VIRTUS® training program "Protecting God's Children (PGC).™" This is the only program accepted in the Diocese of Columbus. These are scheduled periodically within the Diocese of Columbus.  Adults must register online at www.virtus.org. [PLEASE NOTE: For adult victims of child sexual abuse the Diocese of Columbus offers an alternative to the PGC training. These adults may directly contact the Safe Environment Consultant for the Diocese of Columbus, Regina Quinn, to make confidential arrangements at 614-241-2565].
2. The completion of an electronic fingerprint background check. If a person has lived in Ohio the past 5 consecutive years, he or she needs a State of Ohio BCI check. If a person has lived outside of Ohio for any time during the last 5 years, then he or she needs to have an FBI Background Check.  Please contact the parish office for fingerprinting instructions which include the necessary fingerprinting code and where to send reports.  If you are a parish volunteer or employee, you may submit a receipt for reimbursement for the fingerprinting fee.
    
3. Other Requirements. As required by the Diocese of Columbus and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, there are application and other compliance forms that must be filled out before a volunteer or employee begins any contact with children.

Online Resources

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at http://www.usccb.org
Catholic Diocese of Columbus at  https://columbuscatholic.org/

VIRTUS® at https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/