We are all aware of the grave problem of the abuse of children that exists within society.  Each of us must do all that we can to help protect those children entrusted to us.  This is especially important for those that work and minister in the Church.

As a critical part of our safe environment policy for young people, the Diocese of Pittsburgh is creating a centralized electronic database for individuals who work and minister in the Church who have contact with children and young people under the age of 18.  To create this secured diocesan database, all who have contact with the youth of our parishes—these includes clergy, religious, employees or volunteers—are now required to create an electronic file which will contain five parts:

• A completed application to the Diocesan Database

• Pennsylvania Criminal Record Clearance, which will be generated when the database application is completed

• Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, which will be generated when the database application is completed

• A signed copy of “The Code of Pastoral Conduct” booklet. This booklet is available at the Parish Office or may be downloaded from the diocesan website at www.diopitt.org

• Documented information that the individual has attended one of the “Protecting God’s Children” workshops which are available in many locations throughout the diocese.  Times and locations of the workshops can be found on www.diopitt.org

This centralized diocesan database is our means to ensure that the Church—locally and nationally—not only fulfills the mandate of the Church in the United States as outlined in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the clear requirements of the 2004 diocesan policy, but also meets the requirements of state and federal law.

Most important, this centralized database is vital in sustaining a safe environment for our children throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  We can expect nothing less of ourselves as we seek not only to fulfill a mandate, but indeed to be the standard-bearer in society for the protection of young people.

Completing the application that will create your file for the diocesan database will take about 20 minutes of your time.  If you have access to the Internet at home, at work, or at the local library, you can complete the application online.  If you do not have access to the Internet, or are uncomfortable completing the application online, you can obtain a paper copy of the application at the parish.  We can assist you with this process.

The parish will absorb any cost associated with creating your personal file.

To Begin:

You may begin this process by accessing the webpage for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  This address is www.diopitt.org . Click on the link “Diocesan Abuse Prevention Effort.” This page will direct you to the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s “Code of Pastoral Conduct” booklet (found under the section titled “”Essential Documents.”)  Please read this booklet, and sign and return page 19, to Assumption Parish in an envelope marked “Protecting God’s Children.”

Next, once again using www.diopitt.org, you can find the times, locations, and registration information of upcoming “Protecting God’s Children” workshops.  When you attend one of the workshops you will receive the documentation you need to continue creating your personal file.

Finally, you may complete your application for the Centralized Diocesan Database, either by following the instructions on the diocesan website, or by obtaining a paper copy of the application, completing it, and returning it to the Parish Office where a trained Site Coordinator will enter the information for you via the Internet.

There are “Instruction Cards” available either at the Parish Office or via the diocesan website (www.diopitt.org) which will offer assistance for completing the application online.  Please note:  In the “Access Code field,” the diocesan password you need is “protect.”

On the left-hand side of the diocesan home page, you will see a box marked “Diocese of Pittsburgh Database Application.”  Click on that box and this will take you to the Application Log-In.

Please be assured that your personal information will remain confidential.