Code of Conduct & Behavior Standards

Article 6 of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, mandates: "There are to be clear and well-publicized diocesan/eparchial standards of ministerial behavior and appropriate boundaries for clergy and for any other paid personnel and volunteers of the Church in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people." This document is the Diocese of Fort Worth's response to this mandate and is one of the cornerstones of our Safe Environment Program. All clergy, religious, and lay ministers (employees and volunteers) indicate their agreement with and adherence to the Code of Conduct by signing and dating it.

Professional Ethical Obligations
Priests are accountable to His Excellency, Bishop Michael F. Olson, or the person(s) he designates; all other ministers are accountable to the pastor or other duly appointed representative under the authority of the Bishop.

Clergy, Religious and Lay Ministers must be aware of and comply with all applicable parish/school, organizational and/or diocesan policies and guidelines with special attention to ministerial competency, sexual misconduct, safety, transportation, parental permission, social media, and medical emergency policies.

Additional Obligations Include:
Ministerial Role

Work collaboratively with all those engaged in ministry.
Faithfully represent the teachings of the Catholic Church, with integrity in word and action.
Be competent and receive ongoing education and training commensurate with their role(s) and responsibilities (§§ 231 and 279, Code of Canon Law).

Inclusion

Recognize the dignity of each person and refrain from actions or words that are disrespectful of anyone.
Serve all people in accordance with the Church's teaching on Faith and Morals.
Ensure that all persons have reasonable access to the resources, services, and opportunities they require with particular regard for persons with special needs or disabilities.

Accountability

Serve the Faithful, carrying out their ministerial functions "...conscientiously, zealously, and diligently" (§231, Code of Canon Law).
Exercise responsible stewardship of resources while holding themselves to the highest standards of integrity regarding the fiscal matters placed in their trust.
Be responsible for supporting each other toward being effective leaders. This support must include discussing concerns about inappropriate behavior with their supervisor.

Confidentiality

Respect confidentiality.
Adhere to civil and ecclesial law concerning the reporting of neglect or abuse or whenever physical harm could come to the person or to a third party.
Support the rights and roles of parents, guardians and caretakers, as prescribed by the Church in the Code of Canon Law, while ministering to the needs and concerns of those receiving ministry.

Conduct

Sustain respectful relationships with all those they serve, avoiding manipulation, sexual harassment and other abuses of the authority that comes with a ministerial position.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with colleagues. Romantic or sexual relationships between a minister and those he/she ministers to are inappropriate and unethical, regardless of who initiates the conduct.
Model healthy and positive behaviors with all those encountered through ministry.
Procuring, providing, or using alcohol for persons under 21 years of age and procuring, providing, or using controlled substances for anyone is illegal, inappropriate and unethical.

Referrals and Intervention

Be aware of the signs of sexual abuse and physical neglect.
Be aware of personal and professional limitations with respect to paraprofessional counseling and make appropriate referrals.
Adhere to civil and ecclesial law, policies and procedures for reporting abuse, suspected abuse or neglect.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS

Engaging in actions which are disruptive to the ministry and public worship
Speaking graphically about sexual activities (including your own) and/or allowing others to do so (this includes telling sexually suggestive jokes)
Hosting parish or school events for children or youth in your home without at least one other Safe Environment trained adult present
Showing pornographic materials (photos, films, cartoons, stories, and drawings) to others
Acquiring, possessing or distributing sexual and/or pornographic images of children or adults
Allowing anyone to become sexual with you or with another
Assaultive behavior with another, specifically including spanking, shaking, slapping, wrestling, tickling or physically punishing children or youth
Giving, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol
Giving, possessing or being under the influence of illegal drugs
Giving persons tobacco products
Shaming, degrading, ridiculing, threatening, belittling, or humiliating another person
Using foul or abusive language
Showing favoritism
Going out/Dating a child or young person
Having physical contact with another that can be misinterpreted
Wearing provocative or revealing attire
Being nude in front of others
Being in bed with children or youth
Keeping "secrets" about relationships
Showing affection when no one else is around or in bedrooms, closets, restricted areas and other private rooms
Staring while others are dressing
Commenting on others' bodies
Taking pictures or video/digital recording while others are dressing or showering
Failing to adhere to uniform or accepted standards of affection

WARNING SIGNS

Wearing special clothes when you know you're going to see a certain person
Spending extra time grooming yourself when you know you are going to see a certain person
Finding ways or reasons to be alone with a certain person
Keeping aspects of your relationship with a person secret from others (such as how often you talk on the phone or see each other alone)
Giving and receiving special gifts from a certain person
Neglecting ministry to others in order to spend more time with a certain person
Sharing personal information about others with a certain person
Sharing personal information or seeking help with personal problems from a certain person
Discussing adult issues with children and/or youth
Excessively looking forward to seeing a certain person
Fantasizing or daydreaming about a certain person
Spending disproportionate time or devoting more time with a certain person than with others

DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Appropriate	Inappropriate


Asking permission before touching	Any form of unwanted affection
Side hugs (with adults)	Full frontal hugs or "bear hugs"
Brief shoulder to shoulder hugs	Touching bottoms, chests or genital areas
Pats on the shoulder or back	Massages
Handshakes	Patting others on the thigh, knee or leg
"High-fives" and hand slapping	Tickling or wrestling
Verbal praise	Touching or hugging from behind
Touching hands, faces, shoulders and arms	Games involving inappropriate touching
Arms around shoulders	Kisses on the mouth
Holding hands during prayer or when a person is upset	Special gift giving to/from a certain person
Holding hands while walking with small children
Sitting close to small children
Kneeling or bending down for hugs with a small child

Violations of the Code of Conduct & Behavior Standards for All Clergy, Religious and Lay Ministers are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. All Clergy, Religious and Lay Ministers of the Diocese of Fort Worth are to sign the Code of Conduct Agreement Form. Failure to agree in writing with this Code of Conduct is also grounds for disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

BEHAVIOR STANDARDS

PLEASE CHECK each box signifying that you have read, understand and will adhere to each Behavioral Standard

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Clergy, seminarians, deacon aspirants or candidates, paid personnel and volunteers are to act as role models of proper Catholic values and must not engage in unethical or immoral conduct (or that which gives the appearance of such). Any interpersonal conduct that is prohibited by civil law is likewise forbidden under diocesan policy. As a prime example, any verbal or nonverbal sexual behavior between a minister and a child or young person is inappropriate and forbidden. Further, illicit use of electronic media, whether via internet,email, chat rooms, social networks, phone conversations, text messaging,photos, videos or any other access, is prohibited. Any suspicion of sexual abuse must be reported as required by state law and diocesan policy. Any knowledge or reasonable suspicion of any minister having an inappropriate relationship with a child or young person must be reported promptly to that person's supervisor, who must then discuss this concern with the ministerial role. Two Safe Environment trained adults or one Safe Environment trained adult and two trained teens must be present at all children's and/or youth religious education programs, classes and activities, and must remain until all children/youth have left the premises. This requirement includes all jovenes (Spanish youth) ministries that include adolescents. All planning meetings/ interactions with a teen assistant/helper must take place in public or in the presence of another adult or teen. All Catholic school events and activities outside of a regular classroom setting require the presence of two adults or one adult and at least two teens. Going out/Dating between a minister and a child or young person is not allowed. When initiating physical contact, discretion must be used. Any display of affection should be made in a public setting in front of other group members and should respect the wishes of the other person. One-to-one counseling between a minister and those he/she ministers to should always occur in a public place where they can be observed by others—never alone in a car or a private place. Driving alone with a child and/or youth is to be avoided at all times unless extraordinary circumstances require immediate and prudent action. In such situations, special care should be taken, including all of the following:

Contact parents and document the outcome of the call.
Do not sit close to one another in the car.
Do not come into physical contact with each other.
Do not stop the car to talk.
If you must stop, turn on the inside light of the car.
Avoid physical contact (hugs and kisses) when saying goodbye.
Be aware of the time you depart and arrive and make a record of those times.

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If a minister experiences a recurring romantic or sexual attraction for someone they are ministering to, the minister is required to discuss the situation with their supervisor or spiritual director for guidance. Any sexual gestures or overtures made to a minister, from those he/she ministers to, should be reported to his/her supervisor who will then meet with those involved to discuss the incident. All observed Code of Conduct violations must be reported to the supervisor and documented.

Any Clergy, Religious or Lay Minister who cannot maintain these Behavior Standards cannot serve in the Diocese.

Code of Conduct Acknowledgement

I understand that violations of the Code of Conduct & Behavior Standards for All Clergy, Religious and Lay Ministers (“Code of Conduct”) as outlined, are grounds for disciplinary action, up to, and including dismissal. I further understand that I am required to sign this Acknowledgement if I wish to serve in the Diocese of Fort Worth. Therefore, having read and understood the Code of Conduct, I hereby agree to uphold those requirements and standards in all ministries in which I serve.

Name *

First Name Last Name

Home Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number

Cell Phone *

Address *

Street Address

City

State / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Email

example@example.com

City where your church is located *

Church where you are registered *

Primary position or ministry and city *

Other ministries in which you are involved

Email of safe environment coordinator from your parish

This email ensures your safe environment coordinator is sent a copy of this form.

Recognizing that many people are involved in more than one ministry, sometimes in more than one location, please name your “primary” location and position or ministry. For clergy and religious, the primary entity is the Diocese, and this form should be submitted to the Safe Environment Department at the Catholic Center. For lay employees, the primary location is the place of your employment. All others should identify their primary ministry and location and submit this form to the Safe Environment Coordinator at that location.

Signature

Date

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