Working to Ensure Safe Environments for All

The Diocese of New Ulm, along with dioceses throughout the United States, has enacted policies to address sexual abuse in Church ministry and to help ensure safe environments for children and youth.

We recognize this as our responsibility, not as a one-time obligation or as a set of requirements to meet, but as a commitment to answer the call to protect all God's children and firmly establish a safe environment throughout Church ministry.

Child Protection Protocols

In addition to providing financial compensation for those harmed by abuse, the diocese has committed to 17 Child Protection Protocols, designed to help protect children and young people from abuse and prevent sexual misconduct in ministry. The Diocese of New Ulm has already enacted many of these protocols, and diocesan and parish leaders continue to be committed to fulfilling each of them now and into the future.

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

 “We re-affirm that we will assist in the healing of those who have been injured, will do all in our power to protect children and young people, and will work with our clergy, religious, and laity to restore trust and harmony in our faith communities, as we pray for the Kingdom of God to come, here on earth, as it is in heaven."                       
Preamble, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, June 2018

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A Promise to Protect . . . A Pledge to Heal

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is a comprehensive set of procedures established by the USCCB in June 2002, and last revised in 2018, 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.

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.

In accord with the USCCB's Charter all priests and deacons, diocesan staff, parish and Catholic school employees, as well as volunteers having regular or unsupervised interaction with minors (Charter: “with duties including contact with minors”) within parishes and Catholic schools, are mandated to meet safe environment requirements.

These include:  

  • Submission to a criminal background check

  • Adherence to a Code of Conduct

  • Participation in sexual abuse awareness and prevention training

All new employees, as well as all new volunteers having regular or unsupervised interaction with minors (Charter: “with duties including contact with minors”) are expected to register in the diocesan database by clicking on the dark red button in the upper left margin. For further information about the requirements, please contact your local parish or Catholic school office or other information available on these Safe Environment Web pages.

Message from the Bishop

CONTACT:

Aldean Hendrickson
Safe Environment Coordinator
ahendrickson@dnu.org
(507) 233-5329
 

Sherry Kalow
Diocesan VIRTUS Database Manager
skalow@dnu.org
(507) 233-5308

Jeovanna Michels
Program Assistant
jmichels@dnu.org
(507) 233-5302