SAFE ENVIRONMENT
Guide for Pastoral Conduct With Minors
To report sexual abuse by clergy, parish personnel or volunteers of the Eparchy of Newton, please contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator at vac@melkite.org or 1-800-447-8439.
If you need to report sexual misconduct involving bishops of the United States, or intentional interference in a sexual abuse investigation, you can do so through the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service. You can report through the website https://reportbishopabuse.org/ or by calling them at 1-800-276-1562.
Para denunciar abusos sexuales cometidos por clérigos, personal parroquial o voluntarios de la Eparquía de Newton, contacte al Coordinador de Asistencia a Víctimas a vac@melkite.org o al 1-800-447-8439.
Si necesita denunciar conducta sexual inapropiada que involucre a obispos de Estados Unidos o interferencia intencional en una investigación de abuso sexual, puede hacerlo a través del Servicio de Denuncias de Abusos de Obispos Católicos. Puede hacerlo a través del sitio web https://reportbishopabuse.org/ o llamando al 1-800-276-1562.
You can read or download the full document here: Guide for Pastoral Conduct with Minors
Guide for Pastoral Conduct With Minors
(Revised 2024)
“Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives Me…” (Mt 18: 5)
Christ our God established His holy Church, through the shedding of His blood and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as the Kingdom of God on earth and the means of Divine Life for all who believe. Through the Mysteries of Holy Baptism and Chrismation, the members of the Church renounce sin and are made “temples of the Holy Spirit” and “partakers of the Divine nature.” They share in the mystical life-blood of Christ that flows through His body, the Church.
Those set apart by Ordination serve as ministers of the Holy Mysteries for the salvation and sanctification of God’s people and the building up of the Body of Christ. (canon 367) By virtue of their baptism, the Laity also can serve in roles of pastoral ministry for the building up of the Kingdom of God (Canon 11).
All who serve in any capacity in the Church—Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and the Laity—are bound always to be models of Christian living and Christ-like action, holding themselves to the highest standards of conduct. Indeed, the admonition of our Divine Savior, “…whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Mt. 18:6), is all the more forceful for those who serve in the Church.
Provided for in the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches and required by the Eparchy of Newton Policy Addressing Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons, the following Code of Ethics specifies basic standards of conduct for all who serve in pastoral roles—clergy and laity alike—in parishes, religious communities, church institutions and organizations.
Code of Ethics
Clergy, lay staff, and volunteers working with minors assist the parents in their God-given obligation to provide their children with the means of salvation and sanctification. Therefore, they are duty-bound to be vigilant at all times in providing for children environments that lift the mind and heart to God and to the “things that are above.” In addition, those working with children shall always avoid even the appearance of impropriety in their dealings with these “little ones.”
Physical contact with children must be completely non-sexual and otherwise appropriate and never in private. One-on-one meetings with young people are best held in a public area, or if that is not appropriate, then the door to the room is left open. The parents should be made aware of all meetings with their children and typically be waiting in another room for them.
When working with children, it is never appropriate to use alcohol or illegal drugs, nor should alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or inappropriate reading material or videos ever be provided to them. The use of such things in working with minors is never appropriate.
Clergy should never allow minors to stay overnight in the cleric’s private residence. Youth ministers, teachers, and any adult should always meet with young people in areas that are visible and accessible. It is always good practice to have two adults present in the meeting area and when driving with minors in a car.
When functioning in a role as clergy, lay staff, or volunteer for the church, one should never provide minors with private or overnight accommodations without other adult supervision present in any Church-owned facility, private residence, hotel, or any other place.
In rare, emergency situations, when accommodation is necessary for the health and well-being of the minor, the clergy, staff or volunteer should take extraordinary care to protect all parties from the appearance of impropriety and from all risk of harm. Using a team approach in managing emergency situations is recommended.
Clergy, lay staff, and volunteers are bound to be models of celibate or married chastity (depending on their state in life) at all times in all their dealings with God’s people (cf. Canon 373). Clergy, lay staff, and volunteers who work in any capacity with minors assume the full burden of responsibility for establishing and fastidiously maintaining clear, appropriate, and virtuous boundaries with children and young people.
A grave offense against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue, it is always morally reprehensible to exploit a minor for sexual gratification. The use of profanity, off-colored humor, and the like, as well as giving and accepting gifts from minors without the parents’ knowledge is to be completely avoided.
Sexual Abuse of a minor includes sexual molestation or sexual exploitation of a minor and other behavior by which an adult uses a minor as an object of sexual gratification and includes the display or distribution to a minor of any picture, photograph, book, pamphlet, digital image, movie or magazine the cover of which or content of which is principally made up of descriptions or depictions of sexual acts or contact, or which consists of pictures of nude or partially nude figures posed or presented in a manner which the average person applying contemporary community standards would find, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest.
Sexual abuse has been defined by different civil authorities in various ways, and these norms do (this guide does) not adopt any particular definition provided in civil law. Rather, the transgressions in question relate to obligations arising from divine commands regarding sexual interaction as conveyed by the sixth commandment of the Decalogue. Thus, the norm to be considered in assessing an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is whether conduct or interaction with a minor qualifies as an external, objectively grave violation of the sixth commandment. (USCCB, Canonical Delicts Involving Sexual Misconduct and Dismissal from the Clerical State, 1995, p. 6). A canonical offense against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue need not be a complete act of intercourse. Nor, to be objectively grave, does an act need to involve force, physical contact, or a discernible harmful outcome. Moreover, imputability [moral responsibility] for a canonical offense is presumed upon external violation unless it is otherwise apparent. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the eparchial bishop, with the advice of the review board, to determine the gravity of the alleged act.
For the purposes of eparchial policies concerning allegations of abuse of minors, the term “minor” or “minors” means any person(s) who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age or who, regardless of age, habitually has an imperfect use of reason.
Allegations of sexual misconduct shall be taken seriously and reported to appropriate ecclesiastical and civil authorities according to the policies and procedures of the Eparchy of Newton. Clergy, staff and volunteers should review and know the child abuse regulations and reporting requirements of the particular state and locality where they serve.
When there is an indication of any illegal action the proper ecclesiastical and civil authorities shall be notified.
When an uncertainty exists about whether a situation or course of conduct violates this Code, consult the Eparchial Chancery.
Confidentiality
The confidentiality of the Mystery of Holy Confession (seal of confession) is inviolable (Canon 733). Under no circumstances whatsoever can there ever be any disclosure of information received solely through the Mystery of Holy Confession.
Information obtained in the course of counseling or spiritual direction shall be confidential, except for compelling professional reasons or as required by law. In counseling or spiritual direction with minors, if there is reasonable cause to believe that there is a serious threat to the minor’s health or welfare, including sexual abuse or neglect, or a disclosure is made indicating that the minor is being abused in a any way, the counselor/spiritual director should contact the appropriate ecclesiastical and civil authorities and make a report according to the policies and procedures of the Eparchy of Newton as stated in the Eparchy of Newton Policy Addressing Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests and Deacons.
The Health and Well-Being of the Clergy
“Clerics are bound in a special manner to the perfection which Christ proposed to his disciples, since they are consecrated to God in a new way by sacred ordination, so that they may become more suitable instruments of Christ, the eternal Priest, in the service of the people of God, and at the same time that they be exemplary models to the flock” (Canon 368). This awesome responsibility borne by those who minister in the Household of God requires that they live lives of complete fidelity to Christ in all piety and honesty. Fervent prayer, regular use of Mystery of Holy Confession, spiritual direction and retreats are all vital in living lives of purity and holiness (Canon 369). Daily invoking the abundant mercy of God in weakness and failings is the means by which we receive the grace to accomplish the ministry of Christ our God.