Protecting God's Children

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Office of Safe Environment

Results of 2023 Independent Audit of Safe Environment Procedures

The Office of Safe Environment is responsible for assisting Bishop James Ruggieri in the Diocese of Portland's efforts to combat and prevent child sexual abuse. Under the direction of Bob McDermott, the office is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the diocese’s Safe Environment training programs including:

  • Protecting God’s Children, a program designed to educate adults on how to recognize the warning signs that might indicate that a child is being abused. This program also addresses how sexual predators behave and describes, in detail, how predators groom children prior to the actual attempt to abuse. Click here to find a schedule of classes.  Then, choose Portland ME (diocese) from the dropdown menu and hit "select."
     
  • Circle of Grace, a program designed to educate both parents and children on the different ways that sexual predators behave and how children can best protect themselves from being abused. For information about Circle of Grace, contact you local parish office or Catholic school principal.

The office also performs criminal background checks, Department of Health and Human Services background checks, and motor vehicle checks on all clergy, employees, and volunteers who work with children.

Safe Environment Forms

Below please find an Adobe format copy of the Employee & Volunteer Applications as well as the Department of Human Services and the Background Check Authorization forms required when someone begins to work or volunteer for the Diocese in a position that involves working with children on a regular basis.

Note: You may print and fill out these documents; however, they MUST be submitted through your parish or school and NOT directly to Chancery. Also, we cannont accept electronic signatures so forms must be printed and then signed. 

Code of Ethics (Revised Dec. 12, 2022) - Return Appendix B page only to your parish or school. Do not send to Chancery.

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion Application Form

Circle of Grace Parents' Opt-Out Form

Circle of Grace Reporting Form for Parishes

Circle of Grace School Reporting Form

Virtus Training Registration Sheet

Department of Health & Human Services Release Form (DHHS Fillable Form) - We are unable to accept electronic signatures, so after being filled out, please print and sign the form, and submit to it your parish / school. It does not go directly to the chancery nor to the State of Maine.

Background Check Authorization Form - Must be submitted through your parish / school and not directly to the chancery.

Employee Application - We are unable to accept electronic signatures, so after being filled out, please print and sign the form, and submit to it your parish / school. It should not be returned directly to the chancery.

Initial Background Check Information - This form is to be filled out by those who have been offered and accepted positions.

Volunteer Application - We are unable to accept electronic signatures, so after being filled out, please print and sign the form, and submit to it your parish / school. It should not be returned directly to the chancery.

Volunteer Application - Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion - We are unable to accept electronic signatures, so after being filled out, please print and sign the form, and submit to it your parish / school.