Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the USA

with children and young people. The bishops have promised that children and young people will be safe when in the Church’s care, and they have promised to ensure that safety. Prior to entrusting anyone with public ministry, the Church must assure through a thorough evaluation process that the person is suit able with regard to child safety. In this regard, it should be noted that interna tional criminal background checks have inherent limitations and should not be taken as sufficient indi cation that a minister is suitable for public ministry. Acts or behaviors that are illegal in civil law in the United States may not be illegal in another nation, or they may be illegal, but relevant laws may not be enforced. For instance, the age of consent for sex ual acts varies from country to country. It is possible, therefore, that a person may have engaged in a sexual act with a minor in his/her country that would not have constituted a crime there. Yet, had that same act been committed in the United States it would have been criminal in nature. Consequently, in such case, a background check in the country of origin would not return information giving an indication that the act was committed, since it would not have been prohibited by the law of that jurisdiction. Additionally, an R-1 visa background check focuses on national security issues. Because of this, even a conviction for sexual abuse may not be included in this type of background check. Interpol is the larg est international police organization in the world with 190 member countries, and its role is to help police around the world work together to make the world a safer place. A number of dioceses and eparchies use Interpol. Due to Interpol’s size and particular mission, however, not all crimes come to its attention. The thoroughness or reliability of criminal back ground checks often varies by country or even by region within a country. In some instances, obtain ing a criminal background check might be difficult or take an exceptionally long time to complete. If this is the case, the diocese, eparchy, institute, or society is still obligated to make sure that the international pastoral minister has been fully vetted for child safety. Transfer of Clergy A final topic of special interest concerning the recep tion of international pastoral ministers involves the transfer of clergy. Article 14 of the Charter states:

“Transfers of clergy who have committed an act of sexual abuse against a minor for residence, including retirement, shall be as in accord with Norm 12 of the Essential Norms .” This means, as Norm 12 stipulates, that: “No priest or deacon who has committed an act of sexual abuse of a minor may be transferred for a ministerial assignment in another diocese/eparchy.” This would include, of course, priests or deacons received from outside the United States. For this rea son, prior to receiving international clerics, as Norm 12 continues, “Every bishop/eparch who receives a priest or deacon from outside his jurisdiction will obtain the necessary information regarding any past act of sexual abuse of a minor by the priest or deacon in question.” With regard to the reception or transfer of a cler ical member of an institute or society, their major superiors are also obliged to inform the diocesan or eparchial bishop confidentially of past acts of sexual abuse of a minor and any other information indicat ing that the international cleric has been or may be a danger to minors. To assist with this, the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People has developed model Letters of Suitability that can be used to assure the receiving bishop and the send ing diocesan or eparchial bishop or major superior that they have shared all pertinent information (see the “Further Resources” section at the end of the Guidelines ). Although these specific articles of the Charter have been highlighted for international pastoral min isters, all new pastoral ministers should be familiar with the entire Charter as well as the Essential Norms and USCCB’s Statement of Episcopal Commitment. To ensure the safety of all children and young people in the care of the Church, the Church must vet all new pastoral ministers before they begin any minis try involving children and young people. The Charter is a solemn commitment made by the bishops of the United States to protect the young. The Church must screen and train all those who minister to children and young people, so that they can minister safely. The words of St. John Paul II bear repeating, “There is no place in the priest hood or religious life for those who would harm the young” (Address, April 23, 2002). This applies both to those born in the United States and those coming from other countries and cultures.

F-4 | Child and Youth Protection and Safety