Office of Children and Youth Protection

Safe Environment Training

For Adults

The CMGConnect online training replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children”) that was previously offered through our Archdiocese. Individuals are now required to complete all Safe Environment Training online. 

CMG connect is a new web-based platform that will assist us to ensure that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within our schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.

“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three-part video that provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.  Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding.

Education is a key element of the Safe Environment program. All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, volunteers, members of groups, movements, and organizations over the age of 18, who work, volunteer, or participate in any capacity are required to complete the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Training and a criminal background check before they may begin employment, volunteer, or participate with ministries, groups, movements, and organizations. 

In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every 5 years and a new background check submitted before the 5-year expiration of prior training. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Click here to access the CMGConnect online training

For Youth

The Archdiocese is committed to ensuring the safety of our children and young people in keeping with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Circle of Grace

In August 2017, Cardinal DiNardo has directed that every parish in the Archdiocese implement the Circle of Grace program, children and youth are taught to identify and maintain appropriate physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual boundaries; recognize when boundary violations are about to occur; and demonstrate how to take action when boundary violations are threatened or violated. Along with a strong parent component, the program teaches children that God is with them at all times, especially in difficult situations. The Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization oversees the formation and reporting process. All program inquiries should be directed to Tim Colbert at 713-741-8723 or [email protected].

Jeremiah 1:7

Jeremiah1:7 is an Archdiocesan safe environment program that provides formation for high school-age youth who assist adults in ministry to children and youth under the age of 18. The program is a collaborative effort between the Offices of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, and Office of Child and Youth Protection personnel. The OACE is responsible for the day-to-day operating management of the program. Please contact Tim Colbert for upcoming training dates. All program inquiries should be directed to [email protected] or [email protected].

Reporting Requirements for Suspected Abuse of a Minor

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston requires compliance with applicable laws regarding incidents of actual or suspected child abuse including abuse involving child-on-child conduct. Failure to report suspected physical or mental abuse or neglect of a child in Texas is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

PERMISSION TO MAKE A REPORT IS NOT REQUIRED OR EXPECTED. 
ERR ON THE SIDE OF MAKING A GOOD-FAITH REPORT RATHER THAN FAILING TO DO SO.

TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE OF A MINOR (person under 18 years of age) BY AN UNKNOWN PERPETRATOR

Immediately contact:

• Child Protective Services (CPS) of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400 and Local Police Department

TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE OF A MINOR (person under 18 years of age) BY A MEMBER OF THE CLERGY

Immediately contact:

• Child Protective Services (CPS) of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400 and Local Police Department

• Diane Vines, Victims’ Assistance Coordinator 
  Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Post Office Box 907, Houston, TX 77001
  Email: [email protected] or 713-654-5799 (confidential voice mail)
  
  

TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE OF A MINOR (person under 18 years of age) BY AN EMPLOYEE OR VOLUNTEER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE

Immediately contact:

• Child Protective Services (CPS) of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400 and Local Police Department

• Director, Office of Child and Youth Protection
  Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, 1700 San Jacinto Houston, TX 77002
  713-652-4499

Victims Assistance

The Victims Assistance Coordinator of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston serves as the primary contact person for persons who were sexually abused as a minor (less than 18 years of age) by clergy, employees or volunteer ministers of the Church. The Coordinator works to establish and maintain a relationship of trust between the diocese and the victims.

The Victims Assistance Coordinator offers pastoral outreach, in the name of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, to those victims/survivors of sexual abuse as a minor. This office also coordinates victim/survivor support groups and other therapeutic and pastoral assistance.

United with the Lord, who is ever faithful in caring for His people, the Victim's Assistance Coordinator seeks to help heal the pain and suffering caused by sexual misconduct within the Church.

If you are seeking Victims Assistance, please contact Victims Assistance Coordinator Diane Vines at [email protected] or confidential voicemail  713-654-5799.

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. "Whoever causes one of these little ones* who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. - Matthew 18: 1-6

Important Victims Assistance Documents

Requirements for Reporting Abuse of a Minor (English)
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

Safe Enviroment Policy

Safe Environment Policy - 2019

Políticas de un Ambiente Seguro - 2019

Chính sách An Toàn Môi Trường cho trẻ em - 2019

Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is a comprehensive set of procedures originally established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in June 2002 for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. It was revised in 2005, 2011, and 2018. 

Spanish Translation of Charter:  Estatuto para la protección de niños y jóvenes

The Charter directs action in all the following matters:

• Creating a safe environment for children and young people;
• Healing and reconciliation of victims and survivors;
• Making prompt and effective response to allegations;
• Cooperating with civil authorities;
• Disciplining offenders;
• Providing for means of accountability for the future to ensure the problem continues to be effectively dealt with through the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection and the National Review Board.

Policy and Procedure For Investigating Allegations of Sexual Abuse By Clergy Against a Minor - Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Sexual abuse by a priest or deacon violates human dignity, clerical commitment and the very mission of the Church. It diminishes and, at times, destroys the relationship of trust that is necessary for ministry.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston considers allegations of sexual abuse by its clergy a very serious matter and is committed to promptly responding to such allegations. The safety and protection of children and young people is our primary concern. We are deeply saddened by any abuse of minors and are committed to assisting the victims/family in healing and reconciliation. Towards this end, compassionate support will be offered to victims/families and a thorough and timely investigation of all allegations will be undertaken in accordance with the procedure stipulated in this document.

For purposes of this document, clergy will include not only priests and deacons, but also seminarians of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. When the accused cleric is a member of a religious institute, his superiors will be contacted and informed of the allegation. If the accused cleric is a diocesan priest/deacon from another diocese, his diocesan bishop will be contacted and informed of the allegation. In these cases, it is responsibility of the superior/bishop to investigate the allegation in accordance with their policies. 

The Bishop, by virtue of his role and function in the Church, is charged with the pastoral care of both the faithful and the clergy, and with the promotion of unity in the diocese in a communion of charity and reconciliation. Hence, this document is intended to assist the Bishop of Galveston-Houston in the exercise of his pastoral ministry to the faithful and clergy entrusted to him by Christ, the Good Shepherd, and to assist him in carrying out his canonical responsibilities in the internal governance of the Archdiocese. The persons and bodies referenced in the policy, such as the Victim Assistance Coordinator and the members of the Review Board and the Special Panel, are part of this procedure and are considered advisors to the Bishop in carrying out his canonical responsibilities.

These procedures are subject to the provisions of canon law and will be reviewed at least every two years and will be modified or supplemented as laws, circumstances and situations require.

1. Allegations of sexual abuse of a minor (whether the person is a minor at the time of the reporting or whether the person is now an adult but was a minor at the time of the alleged abuse) are to be immediately referred to the Archdiocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC). The VAC will take an initial account of the data as presented by the informant, attempting to gather as much pertinent information as possible pertaining to the allegation(s). The VAC will express the concern of the Bishop, begin the discussion of counseling for the victim/family, advise the victim/family of their right to report to legal authorities, and inform the alleged victim/parents of minor that the VAC will be their communication contact with the Diocese. In the event that the VAC is unable to respond to the alleged victim within a 24 hour period, the Chancellor, or another delegate of the Bishop, is to take the initial account.

2. The VAC will immediately provide a verbal report of the allegation to the Bishop (Chancellor in the Bishop's absence).

3. The Bishop (Chancellor in the Bishop's absence) will immediately consult with legal counsel regarding compliance with applicable civil law reporting statutes.

4. The Bishop will assign a Case Manager, in most cases the Chancellor, to ensure that the policy is followed and the records properly kept.

5. The VAC will provide a written memo reporting the allegation to the Bishop and the Chairperson of the Archdiocesan Review Board. The Bishop will convene the Review Board to assess the allegation and advise him regarding the credibility of the allegation and the need for an investigation.

6. The Bishop or his delegate shall arrange to promptly meet with the accused cleric to inform him of the allegation. In this meeting, the accused cleric should be:

   1. informed of the allegation against him;

   2. encouraged to retain the assistance of civil and canonical counsel;

   3. encouraged to utilize spiritual direction; and

   4. informed if any restrictions are placed upon him or his ministry during the period of investigation, up to and including being relieved of ministry and/or the parish.

7. If the cleric admits the allegation, the Bishop will consult with the Review Board regarding the appropriate action to be taken. The cleric will be urged to have a medical and psychological evaluation. If it is deemed advisable, he will be urged to participate in a residential treatment program. He will be removed permanently from ministry, and if the case so warrants, dismissed from the clerical state (Canon 1395). The cleric will be informed that he may not wear clerical garb, nor may he present himself publicly as a priest.

8. If the accused cleric denies the allegation or declines comment during the meeting with the Bishop, then the Bishop shall convene a Special Panel (3-5 persons, including at least one priest), who will conduct an investigation to determine if the allegation can be established after an appropriate process in accord with canon law (Canon 1717-1719).

9. The Special Panel will:

   1. interview the alleged victim, the parents/guardians if alleged victim is still a minor, the accused cleric and any other persons it deems appropriate to form a judgment regarding the substantiation of the allegations;

   2. prepare a written report of its findings to the Bishop (copies shall be provided to the Case Manager and the Chairperson of the Board); and

   3. make recommendation(s) regarding subsequent action to be taken with respect to the accused cleric and the alleged victim.

10. The Bishop shall reconvene the Review Board to review the Special Panel's report and to advise the appropriate next course of action.

    1. If the Bishop determines that there is sufficient evidence that sexual abuse of a minor has occurred, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith will be notified and the cleric will be removed from ministry or any ecclesiastical office (Canon 1722).

    2. The Bishop will proceed with a canonical trial when directed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, unless it reserves the case to itself because of special circumstances.

    3. If the case would be barred by prescription, the Bishop shall apply to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for a dispensation from prescription, indicating the appropriate pastoral reasons.

    4. The alleged offender may be requested to seek appropriate medical and psychological evaluations at a mutually acceptable facility.

    5. If the Bishop determines that there is insufficient evidence that sexual abuse has occurred, he will receive any recommendations from the Review Board as to an appropriate course of action. The Bishop will notify the alleged victim and the cleric of the advice of the Review Board by a proper forum.

Safe Environment Documents

Requirements for Reporting Abuse of  a Minor (English)

Requirements for Reporting Abuse of a Minor (Spanish)

Requirements for Reporting Abuse of a Minor (Vietnamese)

Archdiocesan Requirements for Overnight and/or Out of Town Trips

Archdiocesan Requirements for Overnight and/or Out of Town Trips (Spanish)

Archdiocesan Requirements for Overnight and/or Out of Town Trips (Vietnamese)

Attorney General of Texas Guide (When you suspect abuse or neglect) (English)

Attorney General of Texas Guide (When you suspect abuse or neglect) (Spanish)

Volunteer Code of Conduct (English)

Volunteer Code of Conduct (Spanish)

Volunteer Code of Conduct (Vietnamese)

Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

Estatuto para la Proteccion de Ninos y Jovenes

The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service (reportbishopabuse.org or 800-276-1562) has been established to receive reports of sexual abuse and related misconduct by bishops, and to relay those reports to 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.

Sexual abuse by church personnel – a priest, deacon, religious brother or sister, seminarian or any employee or volunteer of the Church – should be reported immediately contact Child Protective Services (CPS) of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and Local Police Department. Please click the "Report Abuse" tab for more information.

If you have any other kind of complaint about a bishop—such as parish assignments, church closings or homily contents—please address those directly to the Archdiocese.