On Jan. 1, 2002, the Catholic Diocese of Austin instated policies on Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) for all employees and those volunteers who minister to youth or vulnerable adults in the diocese. These policies were revised in August 2008. All clergy and paid staff, and all volunteers working with youth and vulnerable adults, at any parish or diocesan location, are required to complete an Application for Ministry AND are required to attend an EIM workshop every three years.
Every adult parishioner is encouraged to complete an Application for Ministry and to attend an EIM workshop. Many ministries require that all volunteers complete this process. These ministries include ones like religious education teacher or aide, a lector, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, usher, greeters, etc.
The application can be found by following links under the heading Ethics and Integrity in Ministry on the diocesan website (www.austindiocese.org). There you will also find a list of upcoming workshops. You are encouraged to complete your on-line application before the workshop, but that is not required. Workshops will be held at our parish on Thursday, March 26, 2009 and April 2, 2009 from 6 pm to 9 pm and on Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 9 am to noon. Call the office, 218-1183, to register. The sessions will be held in St. Monica’s Hall. You must be there at the start.
The Diocese of Austin, the Catholic Church of Central Texas, is committed to preventing harm from happening to any of our children or vulnerable adults. If you are aware of sexual abuse and/or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult by a volunteer, employee or clergy member, our Ethics and Integrity in Ministry policies require that you report that information to the diocesan chancellor by calling (512) 476-4888. A Notice of Concern form can also be used and is available on our diocesan Web site, www.austindiocese.org (click on the link “To report abuse”). These reports may be made anonymously. It is also state law that abuse and/or neglect of a minor must be reported to local law enforcement or the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services at 1-800-252-5400 or www.dfps.state.tx.us