Child Protection
Fingerprinting / Attending an Orientation Workshop
All employees and regular volunteers who have contact with children must receive an acceptable criminal background check through fingerprinting and attend an orientation workshop.
Decree on Child Protection
If an employee or a regular volunteer has not received an acceptable criminal background check through fingerprinting and has not attended an orientation workshop on the Decree on Child Protection, the employee or regular volunteer is not approved to have contact with children and may not have contact with children. Additionally, under our current policies, each time an employee or regular volunteer has a change in location of service, the employee or regular volunteer is required to be fingerprinted again. In addition, a B-4 Form must be completed, sent to the Chancery, and the registry checks noted in the B-4 Policy and the B-6 Policy must be completed before an employee begins having contact with children. If you have any questions, please contact Father Joe Binzer at jbinzer@catholiccincinnati.org or 513.263.6601. Thanks for all you do to protect children entrusted to our care.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati understands your concern for the confidentiality and protection of your personal information, including your fingerprints and Social Security Number. This information is only used as needed. The following frequently asked questions (FAQ's) and answers may help you understand the process.
Why is the Archdiocese of Cincinnati fingerprinting adults?
Fingerprinting is a type of background check. The Decree on Child Protection of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati requires adults who have contact with children to obtain an acceptable criminal background check through fingerprinting in accord with the current polices of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. These adults include candidates for ordination, clerics, employees who have contact with children, regular volunteers, auxiliary services personnel, and personnel furnished by a third party contractor who have contact with children. (see the B.1 Policy of the Decree on Child Protection)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People requires that dioceses evaluate the background of those working with children by utilizing the resources of law enforcement agencies. (Article 13)
The State of Ohio provides congregations and their agents (among others) immunity from civil liability if a background check is completed for a volunteer who has contact with children and that volunteer later harms a child. (Ohio Senate Bill 187, April 22, 2001)
