The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is taking action to keep children safe. Archdiocesan policy requires that all Church personnel including a priest, religious, deacon, pastoral minister, employee, school employee, parish employee, and contract employee must obtain background checks and clearances as required by Pennsylvania law. This includes any individual 14 years of age or older applying for or in a paid position as an employee responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children. Additionally, any volunteer (unpaid) who may have any possible contact with or responsibility for children must also obtain background checks and clearances. Employees and volunteers with regular contact with children must complete Safe Environment training as specified by the Archdiocese. 
 
All volunteers must complete clearances and trainings before beginning to volunteer. 
 
If you have questions regarding clearances and background checks, please call 610-422-3008 or email 
SBGSafeEnvironment@gmail.com. You can also click here to visit the Archdiocesan Office for Child and Youth Protection website. 

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has selected EthicsPoint to provide you with a way to anonymously and confidentially report actual or possible violations of financial and other policies. To learn more about it or to make a report, click here.

Additionally, all clergy, religious, seminarians, pastoral ministers, administrators, employees, board/council members, and volunteers of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its related parishes, schools, and ministries are responsible for complying with its Professional Standards and Business Conduct Policy.

Please click here to review the Professional Standards and Business Conduct Policy.  

The Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries are applicable to all priests, deacons, religious, pastoral ministers, administrators, staff and volunteers in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. They are intended to provide clear standards of behavior and, in particular, a blueprint for the boundaries of appropriate behavior in all interactions with children and young people.

Click here to view the Standards of Ministerial Behavior.