Effective immediately, every priest, deacon and seminarian serving in the diocese, as well as any Church employee or volunteer who has direct contact with a minor on an ongoing basis, will have to undergo fingerprinting and a criminal history background check before beginning or continuing with their ministry.

The new policy mandating these measures was to be announced to three separate gatherings of priests and deacons Nov. 10, 11 and 13 in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway.

According to the preamble of the policy handed out at those meetings, the new measures represent part of the implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, finalized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops last November, and the diocese’s own commitment to ensure a safe environment for children within the Church.

As explained to the clergy gatherings, individuals covered under the policy include all priests, seminarians, deacons and deacon candidates, even if they, in the course of their ministry, have no contact with minors. The policy also pertains to all religious, employees, volunteers and third-party vendors who, during the course of their work or volunteer activity at any diocesan entity, have direct contact with minors on more than one occasion, or if that one instance involves an overnight activity.

As explained by Ronald C. Rak, general secretary for administrative and legal services, fingerprint analysis provides the most effective means of investigating an individual’s criminal background. The fingerprints will be taken by law enforcement personnel and the analyses will be conducted by the New Jersey State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Within the diocese, the program will be overseen by the Office of Child and Youth Protection, headed by Lawrence Nagle, and administered by KidSafe Record Checks of Neptune. Designated representatives in the parishes and schools of the diocese will also be called upon to help coordinate the program.

The preamble stipulates, "that persons who were convicted of, or pled guilty to, crimes and offenses involving sexual misconduct or physical violence will not be permitted to work with, or volunteer in the presence of, minors. Persons who were convicted of, or pled guilty to, lesser crimes and offenses cannot work with, or volunteer in the presence of, minors unless express permission is given by the diocese after an investigation into the facts surrounding the conviction or plea."

Rak noted that individuals who were charged with committing a crime, but were not convicted or did not plead guilty, would also have to be cleared through the diocese before being hired.

Among those subject to the new policy are parish catechetical leaders and staff; directors and staff of youth ministry programs; directors of children’s and youth choirs; adult scout leaders’ summer camp personnel; maintenance staff, and chaperones for group or individuals activities. However, the policy pertains to all individuals who have ongoing direct contact with minors, meaning that they are in their physical presence, as defined by the policy.

The background check requirements for teachers in Catholic schools of the diocese mirror those in public schools and will be accepted, Rak noted. However, some personnel in Catholic schools may still have to undergo the background checks.

In introducing the new policy to the priests, Msgr. William Benwell, vicar general and moderator of the curia, explained that the diocese was moving quickly on the measures following completion of the audit commissioned by USCCB. He stated, "Among the recommendations made by the auditors was that while, technically, we were in compliance in some areas, we could be doing a better job."

Among the areas needing improvement, he said, was the level of participation and completion of the safety training course, Protecting God’s Children. All priests of the diocese are now required to complete that training following a recent letter of request from Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski.

Another recommendation, Msgr. Benwell noted, was that the diocese immediately begin to implement the background check policy as directed by the charter.

In recognition that the new policy represents change, and in many cases, a real hardship for parishes already pressed for time and scrambling for enough people to help, Msgr. Benwell stated, "Background checks may be new to us, but aren’t for scores of other professions."

Noting that not all dioceses have enacted policies with the same level of security, Msgr. Benwell shared some of the reasons that priests and deacons have been asked to undergo the background check process. He said, "The nature of our ministry is that we are always in the presence of children. More importantly we are all viewed by our people as leaders. And every great, effective leader leads by his actions."

He added, "After sitting down in these sessions and hearing what victims of sexual abuse have gone through, I believe that these inconveniences we face because of this new policy are nothing in comparison. If training and background checks prevent even one person from being victimized, then we have done a good thing, a Christ-like thing."

Rak echoed that sentiment, saying, "It is my hope that not too far in the future, the media and society in general will see our Church, our Catholic schools and our Catholic programs as the safest places for children to be."

The cost of conducting the fingerprinting and criminal history check will be $49 for employees and $36 for volunteers, with a $10 administrative fee, according to Rak. The policy specifies that the diocese will pay the costs connected to the fingerprinting and checks of clergy and seminarians, but that all expenses for evaluating personnel and volunteers serving in diocesan entities will be borne by the local parishes and schools.

To make the process as convenient as possible, Rak noted, sites will be set up in each deanery for fingerprinting. The policy calls for subsequent background checks to be conducted every three years.

Priests and deacons were given an opportunity to ask questions and air concerns regarding the impact the new policy would have on the ministry within their communities.

Among the issues raised was the discouragement factor for those who might have considered volunteering to work in the Church. Other priests worried about whether this would delay already existing programs that rely on volunteers to continue.

A pastor who ministers to the Hispanic community stated that the policy would "send a shock wave through the immigrant population." Whether documented or not, it will be very unsettling for them, he said.

He added, "We need to be careful how this is presented. The evil (the sex abuse crisis) has hit us already and has cut us apart. We have to guard against allowing it to go further."

Rak pledged that the diocese will work to answer all concerns, and find solutions where problems arise.