Safe Environment
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Protecting God's Children® 4.0
Soon we will begin implementing Protecting God's Children 4.0 in all our parishes and missions. Protecting God’s Children® for Adults is the VIRTUS® program aimed at making participants aware of the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse, and five easy steps one can use to prevent child sexual abuse. This session, typically 3-hours long, is for adults in the faith community who interact with minors.
Pronto implementaremos Proteger a los Hijos de Dios 4.0 en todas nuestras parroquias y misiones. Proteger a los Hijos de Dios™ para Adultos es el programa de VIRTUS® para concientizar a los participantes sobre señales de abuso sexual infantil, los métodos y medios por los cuales los delincuentes cometen abuso y cinco pasos sencillos que se pueden seguir para prevenir el abuso sexual infantil. Esta sesión, por lo general de 3 horas, es para los adultos de la comunidad de fe que interactúan con menores.
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As the Catholic faithful of the Valley, we share responsibility for the life and mission of the Church. Each of us is called to celebrate, promote, and when necessary to defend the life and dignity of every person. This awesome responsibility demands that we treat everyone with respect, do what we can to see that harm is never brought to others, especially minors and vulnerable adults, and seek to bring healing for those who have been harmed.
To help achieve these ends, the Diocese of Brownsville has taken the following steps:- Appointed an Assistance Coordinator to offer immediate assistance to victims.
- Adopted new Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines for Ethical and Responsible Conduct in Ministry.
- Introduced a nationally recognized safe environment program of education and prevention of child sexual abuse called Protecting God’s Children.
- Established a policy requiring criminal background checks of all clergy and religious, of all church employees, and of all volunteers who have regular contact with minors or vulnerable adults.
The Diocese of Brownsville continues in its long-standing positive and proactive approach to this sensitive issue. Sexual abuse of children is not tolerated and timely responses are made to all allegations of violations of sexual boundaries.
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31,195
CHILDREN
Children trained to keep themselves
safe in 2018.
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3,096
VOLUNTEERS
Working with children and minors.
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360
FACILITATORS
Number of facilitators training adults every year.
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How to Report Suspected Misconduct
By state law, anyone who suspects abuse or neglect of a minor must report it to local law enforcement officials and/or to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400.
Suspected misconduct with minors by any lay person should also be reported to the pastor of the parish, the principal of the school, or the head of the Catholic institution in question.
Suspected misconduct with minors by a priest, deacon, or religious should also be reported directly to:
- Bishop Mario A. Avilés CO, Vicar General, (956) 784-5010
- Mrs. Margie Garcia, Victims Assistance Coordinator, (956) 238-1455, Email
- Sr. Norma Pimentel, Director of Social Services, (956) 702-4088, Email
To submit suspected misconduct you can use the form Confidential Notice of Concern; this form can also be obtained from the local pastor, school principal, institution head, or diocese.
Letters to the Vicar General should be sent to:
San Juan Pastoral Center
Vicar General
700 Virgen de San Juan
San Juan, Texas 78589-3030
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Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service
The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service (reportbishopabuse.org or (800) 276-1562) has been established to receive reports of sexual abuse and related misconduct by bishops and to relay those reports to proper Church authorities for investigation. Where a report includes a crime, such as the sexual abuse of a minor, it will also be reported to civil authorities. Otherwise, reports will be kept confidential.
This service is intended only for the reporting of sexual abuse by a current or former bishop. Other concerns or complaints about a bishop can be expressed directly to the Diocese of Brownsville by using our Contact page.
If you have any other kind of complaint about a bishop — such as parish assignments, church closings or homily contents — please address those directly to the Diocese.
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Servicio de Denuncia de Abusos de Obispos Católicos
El Servicio de Reporte de Abuso de Obispos Católicos, (reportbishopabuse.org ó (800) 276-1562) se ha establecido para recibir informes de abuso sexual y mala conducta relacionada por parte de los obispos, y para transmitir esos informes a las autoridades de la Iglesia correspondientes para su investigación. Cuando un informe incluye un delito, como el abuso sexual de un menor, también se informará a las autoridades civiles. De lo contrario, los informes se mantendrán confidenciales.
Este servicio está destinado únicamente a la denuncia de abuso sexual por parte de un obispo actual o anterior. Otras inquietudes o quejas sobre un obispo se pueden expresar directamente al la diócesis utilizando nuestra página de contacto.
Si tiene algún otro tipo de queja sobre un obispo, como las asignaciones parroquiales, el cierre de iglesias o el contenido de la homilía, diríjase directamente a la Diócesis.
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Review Board for the Protection of God’s People
The Review Board for the Protection of God’s People serves as a confidential body to advise the Bishop in matters of policy, prevention of misconduct, and on responses to allegations of misconduct.
Once a person has indicated to the Diocese that they experienced clergy sexual abuse as a minor, the assistance coordinator contacts the person to listen and begin the healing process and assists them to contact those in the Diocese and community who can help them.
Confidentiality: Mrs. Garcia abides by the Code of Ethics for Social Workers & the Diocese of Brownsville.
Biographical details: .
Reports and Research that have been commissioned or written by the National Review Board, the Bishops' Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, or the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection.
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Policies
The Diocese has recently updated its policies for clergy, religious, employees, and volunteers in this area. The policies are now known as "Policies, Procedures and Guidelines for Ethical and Responsible Conduct in Ministry", and include norms of conduct, preventive measures, directions for the reporting of suspicious behavior or for making sexual abuse allegations, investigative procedures, and disciplinary steps to be taken as is appropriate.
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Each of us is called to celebrate, promote, and when necessary to defend the life and dignity of every person.
- Safety Awareness Program -
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PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN® 4.0FACILITATOR RESOURCE PAGE
Facilitators should receive refresher training before presenting Protecting God's Children® 4.0.
For more information, please contact Margie Garcia at (956) 238-1455 or Email.
Los facilitadores deben recibir capacitación de actualización antes de presentar Proteger a los Hijos de Dios™ 4.0.
Para obtener más información, comuníquese con Margie García al (956) 238-1455 o por Correo Electrónico.
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Forms / Formas
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English Forms
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Formas en EspañoL
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Protecting God's Children®Teaching Safety – Empowering God's Children®
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Lessons
Click Here
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Lecciones
Haga clic aquí
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Quarterly Bulletin Announcement
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As the Catholic faithful of the Valley, we share responsibility for the life and mission of the Church.
