Abbot Nathan's Statement

VI. THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

A. PROMULGATION AND EDUCATION

Mount Angel Abbey is committed to make every reasonable effort to communicate clearly and regularly with all Abbey personnel and seminarians regarding the goals and expectations of the Program for Child Protection. Likewise, every reasonable effort is made to keep all groups and individuals served by personnel of Mount Angel Abbey informed regarding the Program.

To these ends, the following steps are taken:

	1.	An orientation to the Program is given to all new Abbey personnel and seminarians at the time of hire or admittance. New personnel and seminarians are required to sign a knowledge and compliance statement.
	2.	Presentations on the Program are made to all Abbey personnel and seminarians every three years; each is required to sign a knowledge and compliance statement.
	3.	The Program is available at the Mount Angel Abbey website (www.mtangel.edu) and through the Office of Child Protection.
	4.	The Office of Child Protection disseminates information, including policies and procedures for reporting child abuse by Abbey personnel, throughout the hilltop and in parishes and chaplaincies served by Abbey personnel.
	5.	Collaboration is fostered with community groups, law enforcement agencies, and social services in the ongoing process of education and implementation of the Program.

B. COMPLIANCE

Mount Angel Abbey is committed to insure that the Program for Child Protection is faithfully implemented, supported and maintained by all Abbey personnel and seminarians.

The following steps help to insure the achievement of this objective:

	1.	The Office of Child Protection Coordinator oversees the day-to-day adherence to the Program and makes regular reports to the Abbot and an annual report to the Review Board.
	2.	The Mount Angel Abbey Review Board receives an annual report on the Program for Child Protection and the effectiveness of its implementation.
	3.	Mount Angel Abbey cooperates with local law enforcement, the Oregon Division of Child & Family Services, and other agencies to insure the protection of children.
	4.	All Abbey personnel and seminarians are required to participate in education presentations on the Program and to sign a compliance statement.

C. SCREENING PROCEDURES

A cleric applying for or proposed for assignment at Mount Angel Abbey, including candidates applying for admittance to the monastic community, must complete an application process that conforms to the guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (see "D" below).

Testimonial letters are required of all clerics from outside the Archdiocese of Portland who are proposed as retreat masters, visiting lecturers, symposia presenters, etc., on the hill prior to the event. Those responsible are to notify the Coordinator of the Office of Child Protection who requests testimonial letters from the appropriate Church authorities.

All Abbey personnel as defined in this policy must complete the Abbey Background Check Request and authorization forms and undergo a criminal background check through the Abbey's Human Resources Office. Dioceses or religious communities sponsoring seminarians at Mount Angel Seminary must provide the seminary with criminal background checks on each seminarian. Ordinarily, this screening must be completed before the beginning date of conditional employment, volunteer service or admittance to the Abbey or seminary.

Those seeking admittance to Mount Angel Abbey as monks, those applying for employment or for volunteer service positions, must complete the following requirements:

	a.	application, including social security number
	b.	reference check
	c.	interview
	d.	criminal background check.

Seminarians applying for admittance to Mount Angel Seminary follow the application process and procedures as outlined in the Mount Angel Seminary application booklet. Disqualifying offense listed below determine, in part, admission or non-admission.

D. DISQUALIFYING OFFENSES

No one will be hired as an employee, admitted as a candidate for Mount Angel Abbey, admitted as a seminarian at Mount Angel Seminary, or accepted as a volunteer, if they have been convicted of any disqualifying offence, been on probation or received deferred adjudication for any disqualifying offence, or have pending criminal charges or civil allegations for any disqualifying offense, until a determination of guilt or innocence is made.

Disqualifying offenses include:

	1.	a felony classified as an offense against a person or family or involving an offense against a person or family. Examples: offenses against a person include, but are not limited to, murder, assault, sexual assault, child abuse, and abandoning or endangering a child. Offenses against a family include, but are not limited to, bigamy, incest, interference with child custody, enticing a child and harboring a runaway child;
	2.	a felony classified as an offense against public order or indecency. Examples: offenses against public order or indecency include, but are not limited to, prostitution, obscenity, sexual performance by a child, possession or promotion of child pornography and disorderly conduct;
	3.	a felony violation of any law intended to control the possession or distribution of any substance included as a controlled substance in the Oregon Controlled Substance Act;
	4.	a misdemeanor classified such as sexual assault, indecency with a child, injury to a child, abandoning or endangering a child, sexual performance by a child, possession or promotion of child pornography, enticing a child, bigamy or incest;
	5.	an administrative determination by a local, city, county or state agency that a person has been found to have committed child abuse or neglect.

E. REVIEW

Any person who applies for employment, including admittance to the monastic community, the seminary, and volunteer service, and is not accepted or is terminated under these guidelines, may have the denial or determination reviewed as follows:

	1.	If non-acceptance is based on the criminal background check, the applicant shall be given the name and address of the agency reporting his or her criminal history so that there will be an opportunity to obtain a similar report from the agency. In the event that such a report is obtained by the applicant, and it is believed that an error has been made by the reporting agency or independent agent, then, upon written request, a second criminal background check may be obtained and the application reconsidered.
	2.	If non-acceptance is based upon the interview process, including reference checks, there is no review beyond the applicant's request for reconsideration by those making the determination. It is for the protection of children and young people that the judgment of those representing the Church have the final word. In cases of doubt, favor will be given to the Church and the protection of children and young people.

F. CONFIDENTIALITY

As with all personnel records at Mount Angel Abbey, information obtained through the application form, reference information, interviews, criminal background check, etc., is kept confidential. Confidential materials are kept in a locked file and access is restricted to those who need to know because of work-related responsibilities. Records are retained even after the date of termination of employment or volunteer relationship.

One Abbey Drive • St. Benedict, Oregon 97373 • 503.845.3515
www.mtangel.edu