Policy on Abuse and Harassment - St. Katharine of Siena

Policy on Abuse and Harassment

I. Mission
II. Reporting of Incidents of Suspected Abuse
III.Guidelines for Parish Staff (Religious and Lay) and Volunteers Concerning Interaction with Children and Others
IV. Parish Policy of Assistance to Those Who Have Been Abused

I. Mission

To ensure the continued safety and well being of the children of the parish as well as other children and individuals using the parish facilities by (1) developing standards regulating parish clergy, other staff and volunteers in each segment of the parish in their relationships with children and other individuals with whom they come in contact, (2) establishing processes for dealing with any allegation of sexual and other abuse in such relationships and (3) obtaining the input and approval of the Pastor and the Archdiocese of such standards and processes.

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II. Reporting of Incidents of Suspected Abuse

In Pennsylvania, school personnel and other persons who supervise children are generally required to report suspected incidents of child abuse to appropriate authorities. St. Katharine's parish school and its personnel are within the scope of these laws, and are required to make reports to authorities as appropriate. While the many sponsored activities of St. katharine's are not subject to these requirements of law the parish will voluntarily work within the reporting requirements of these laws for all parish activities, and concerning all parish staff and volunteers who are involved in the supervision of children. A statement of the requirements of reporting under Pennsylvania law will be provided to all parish employees, staff and volunteers who regularly participate in the supervision of children.

In order to maintain the integrity of this system, St. Katharine's will designate three person as contact points with responsibility for providing direct reports to appropriate authorities of suspected child abuse. They currently are:

Pastor - Msgr. John J. Jagodzinski, (610) 688-4584
Independent Certified Professional
+ Barbara Fitzgerald, (610) 293-0223
+ William Laffey, (610) 688-7815

These contact persons will report suspected suspected child abuse to appropriate authorities and can act independently of one another, so as to ensure that any and all incidents of suspected abuse within the realm of this policy are reported to appropriate authorities as set forth in Pennsylvania law, and also report it to the authorities in accord with Archdiocesan guidelines. Any allegation of abuse reported to one contact person will thereafter be reported to the other contact person promptly after a report to authorities, except where the Pastor is the subject of the allegation. Any person who is the subject of a report to authorities will be excused from parish-sponsored activities with children until the authorities have concluded the investigative process under Pennsylvania law.

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III. Guidelines for Parish Staff (Religious and Lay) and Volunteers Concerning Interaction with Children and Others

Child Abuse

It is the policy of St. Katharine of Siena parish and School to maintain an environment free from any form of child abuse. All parish staff (religious and lay) and volunteers of the parish have a duty to report suspected child abuse to the Pastor or other designated contact persons as listed under Section II, whether that suspected abuse stems from the child's home or from another source.

In general, child abuse is defined as:

Any act or failure to act by perpetrator which causes non-accidental serious physical injury to a child under 18 years of age.
Any act or failure to act by perpetrator which causes non-accidental serious mental injury to, or sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child.
Any act, failure to act , or a series of acts or failures to act by a perpetrator which creates an imminent risk of physical injury to, or sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child.
Serious physical neglect by perpetrator constituting prolonged or repeated lack of supervision or the failure to provide essentials of life or development or impairs the child's functioning.

Harassment

St. Katharine of Siena Parish prohibits harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability or economic status by any member of its staff or volunteers. Harassment includes verbal or physical conduct that has the effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. Such conduct may include epithets, slurs, hostile or intimidating acts, and the display or aversion to individuals or to a particular group.

Sexual Harassment

This policy expressly prohibits sexual harassment which consists of inappropriate sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical conduct, or other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment may be from subtle pressure to physical assault. Sexual harassment includes:

Threats or repeated pressure for sexual relation or sexual contact.
Continuous or rejected verbal abuses of a sexual nature including graphic commentaries on a person's body.
Sexually degrading words to describe the person, or propositions of a sexual nature.
Sexual remarks, jokes, or gestures.
Repeated remarks to a person, with sexual or demeaning implications.
Inappropriate touching.
Suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanies by implies or explicit threats concerning one's grades, etc.
Suggestive looks, leering, or staring, or displaying suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, posters, or magazines.

The following guidelines apply to parish staff (religious and lay) and volunteers:

Always be sensitive to being alone with, or allowing any other adult to be alone with any child or minor volunteer unnecessarily at any time.
Do not touch or allow others to touch any child or minor volunteer in an inappropriate place on their body.
Always be sensitive to speaking or allowing others to speak to any child or minor volunteer about inappropriate sexual matters, whether in jest or otherwise.
Do not speak or allow others to any child or minor volunteer in a way that they might think is physically threatening or sexually harassing.
Always be sensitive to permitting a child or minor volunteer to wait or leave the parish alone after some parish activity.
Always be sensitive before allowing an adult to take out of your sight a child or minor volunteer under your responsibility.
Always be sensitive to how your speech may sound or your actions appear when you are with staff members, volunteers, visitors or children.
Be alert to how other persons are speaking or acting with children or volunteers.
Be alert to any physical abuses on a child and immediately report the same to your direct superior.
Immediately report to the Pastor or the designated contact persons listed in Section II any evidence of abuse, sexual, physical, verbal or otherwise.
When in doubt, immediately report any questionable conduct to your direct superior, Pastor, or the designated contact persons listed in Section II, and follow-up to make certain appropriate actions are taken.

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IV. Parish Policy of Assistance to Those Who Have Been Abused

Counseling Assistance

Upon receipt of a report of suspected abuse, the contact person will offer a list of counselors, psychologists, social workers who are certified to provide appropriate assistance to those concerned.

October 17, 2002

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