Family Issues - Fingerprinting

[Gertabelle]

Yes, there is something weird. Get ready for the plot twist. The family in question is the diocese itself. The father is our bishop. We can’t do any volunteer work with the parish until we get fingerprinted. Can’t even volunteer to put up Christmas decorations. How would you advise me?

Seriously? You’ve gotta be kidding me!

First of all, let me just point out, that the Archbishop may be my spiritual father, but he doesn’t know my name or face, and we’ve never had a conversation. Why shouldn’t he want to do a background check on me before setting over his children (of any age) in a volunteer position? Seems like common sense to me!

I’m a public school teacher. Every single employee in the district is fingerprinted and their fingerprints kept on record with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Parents and guardians who wish to volunteer – even just go on a field trip with the class – have to submit information and have a background search (not sure if fingerprinting is required). And we see and interact with these families EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Now why should it be so offensive to you that the Church asks this much of volunteers in the parish – people who are in the same building for one hour a week, and most of whom don’t have a single one line conversation with anyone else in the building?

Have you done the Safe Environment training in your diocese? The training I went through taught how to spot predatory behavior and be an extra set of ears and eyes for children’s protection. And as for hanging decorations, it’s a really easy place for a predator to get their foot in the door and start poking about for an idea of the ease or difficulty of acquiring targets. “Oh, Joe’s all right – he helped us put up Christmas decorations.” :dts:

And in my parish, I can’t play the organ at mass without the background check (my fingerprints are already on file). I filled out the paperwork, did the Safe Environment training, and went on my way.

Your attempt to create an analogy didn’t work, because biological and marital family relationships are completely different from the thousands and tens of thousands of strangers in a diocese. We may be “family” but most of us will never meet in this lifetime.

 

[Allegra]

I would advise the extended family to watch their kids around the guy who doesn’t want a background check done on him.

 

[Kit15]

The threat to children in the diocese is not the volunteers.

I’d like to think that but sadly, I’ve had the displeasure to observe that it’s not always true.

 

[Convert_in_99]

There’s a family in my parish that refuses to associate with its extended family until those in the extended family get fingerprinted. The dad’s a former lawyer and wants to avoid any legal issues. Naturally the extended family, who also goes to my parish, is upset. But the dad’s family is quite large so some of them have given-in for the sake of unity. I, however, think this is wrong on so many levels but I’m not sure if it is my duty as a fellow Catholic to offer any advice. But, if I could offer some advice to the dad’s extended family, how would you guys advise me?

How would I advise you?

Be thankful it’s not your family and move on!

Kidding aside, it’s always best to stay out of other people’s family drama. Sometimes it’s even best to stay out of your own family drama if you can manage to pull it off!