From Archbishop Weisenburger:

While acknowledging the horrors of the past can serve as a powerful measure of accountability and healing, these gestures are only partial without action taken to ensure such crimes are never repeated. To that end, while the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Safe Environments protocols are consistent with national standards, we are nevertheless implementing a number of enhanced safeguards and reforms, all designed to strengthen our efforts to ensure the safety of every child and vulnerable adult entrusted to our care

Earlier this year, the Archdiocese of Detroit launched a new, diocesan-wide fingerprinting policy that applies to all clergy, educators, and employees, as well as volunteers who work directly with children and vulnerable adults. I was first in line to be fingerprinted, followed by my Vicar General and the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Discipline, and around 225 other diocesan priests to date. This initiative will continue to be implemented in phases over the coming months.

While background screening has long been a critical part of our safe environment effort, fingerprinting is widely recognized as the “gold standard” and most reliable method in the security field. Advances in technology now allow these screenings to be conducted quickly and securely using portable devices. Fingerprinting serves not only as a thorough prescreening measure but also as an ongoing safeguard. Through participation in state and federal databases, we will receive notification of subsequent arrests of anyone in our system who has been fingerprinted, enabling timely and appropriate action when necessary. In many settings, particularly schools and childcare facilities, this standard is already required by law. Our new policy extends this same level of scrutiny, care and protection across the entire Archdiocese. Continue reading

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