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The Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth requires the diocese to conduct background investigations for all employees and for volunteers who have contact with children and youth. This is not an option but rather a requirement of church law for the entire United States. The goal is simple: to make our church a safer place for our children. The Diocese of Las Cruces has chosen to expand this requirement to include all volunteers, employees, and clergy. Along with the background investigation, we also require participation in a Protecting God’s Children workshop and the acknowledgment of our Code of Conduct.
Eligibility for employment and volunteer work will be contingent upon successfully completing the Safe Environment requirements. The Protecting God’s Children Workshop will be completed every 5 years and the background check, once current, will be run quarterly by our approved background check screening company. Volunteers under the age of 18 are not allowed to have unsupervised access to children, youth, or vulnerable adults, and must sign our Code of Conduct for Children and Young People. The minor volunteers will be supervised by a safe environment compliant adult.
To register to complete the safe environment requirements, please log on to www.virtusonline.org to create a Virtus account, participate in the Protecting God’s Children workshop, sign our code of conduct and submit the background investigation.
For further assistance, please contact Yvonne Bower, ybower@rcdlc.org, or (575) 222-4237.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel, contact the Victim's Assistance Coordinator for the Diocese of Las Cruces at (575) 222-4237, or send an email message here. Si usted o alguien que usted conoce ha sido víctima de abuso sexual por parte del clero o personal de la iglesia, póngase en contacto con el Coordinador de Asistencia a Víctimas de Abuso Sexual de La Diócesis Católica de Las Cruces, llamando al 575-222-4237, o mandando un correo electrónico aqui. -
Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service
To report an incident of sexual abuse and related misconduct by a bishop, please contact the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service at ReportBishopAbuse.org or call (800) 276-1562.
The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service will receive and relay those reports to the proper Church authorities for investigation. Where a report includes a crime, such as the sexual abuse of a minor, it will also be reported to civil authorities. Otherwise, reports will be kept confidential.
Make a Report Online or call 800-276-1562
Background of the Catholic Bishops Reporting Abuse Service
In May 2019, Pope Francis released his apostolic letter, Vos estis lux mundi (“You are the light of the world”) to address the issue of sexual abuse and bishop accountability in the global Catholic Church. Vos estis calls upon the metropolitan archbishops to undertake the responsibilities for receiving and assessing reports involving bishops that pertain to sexual abuse and related misconduct.As part of the ongoing commitment to carrying out Vos estis, the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service (CBAR) was established offering a toll-free phone and online reporting service to receive reports regarding sexual abuse involving bishops
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Contact:
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Ms. Yvonne Bowerybowerrcdlc.orgSafe Environment Coordinator
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