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Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal
Our Commitment to a Safe Environment for Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

Nativity of Our Lady Parish in Darien, Georgia - as part of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world - is committed to maintaining and ensuring an environment where children, the very young, the very old, vulnerable adults, families, in short all people, can feel safe from harm.

We know that this is not achieved without effort, even as we acknowledge failure on the part of many Catholics in many countries throughout the past. This knowledge helps us redouble our resolution to honor our children as valuable members of the People of God.
Nativity parish works in close cooperation with the Child and Youth Protection Office of the Diocese of Savannah. We seek to be in full compliance at all times with the policies and requirements of the diocese. The diocesan program centers on four elements:

  • Increasing awareness through the VIRTUS Protecting God's Children training workshops for adults.
  • Implementing the  Diocesan Code of Conduct for Those Working with Minors.
  • Performing background checks  on all clergy, employees and volunteers, in cooperation with law enforcement officials.
  • Providing continuing education through the VIRTUS Web site.

As bishop Dendinger of Grand Island
put it,
"our policies
for creating a safe faith environment
are not our compliance but
our calling".

Therefore, any adult doing any kind of paid or volunteer work for the parish, any adult participating in any church sponsored activity where minors are present, and anyone holding any leadership position in the parish will be in full compliance with diocesan policy. There will be no exceptions!

This compliance consists of four elements, like the diocesan program above, namely:
  1. Attendance at a VIRTUS workshop.
  2. Signing the Diocesan Code of Conduct.
  3. Signing an authorization form for a background check every five years.
  4. Participation in any mandated continuing education events.
The United States Catholic Bishops' Conference has created a Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This charter is based, among other things, on the following principles:
  • Not our compliance - but our calling
  • Not retribution - but reverance
  • Not managing risk - but modeling right relationships
  • Not merely programs, policies and procedures - but who and how we are
If you wish to learn more about the Catholic Church's commitment to establishing a safe faith environment, here are some links:

USCCB Child and Youth Protection Program
USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
Compliance reports (PDF)
Diocesan Office for Child & Youth Protection (Savannah)
Diocesan Policy on sexual abuse of minors
Diocesan Code of Conduct for Those Working with Minors
How the local parish complies (Powerpoint)
VIRTUS Training schedule
VIRTUS: Protecting God's Children (homepage)
In addition, various Catholic groups offer different awareness sessions for young people themselves. In cooperation with St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Brunswick, Nativity will offer some of these courses from time to time.


What do I do if I suspect a case of abuse of a minor?

If you have reason to believe that someone - anyone - connected with the church has harmed, abused or acted inappropriately towards any minor, you are urged to take action. Please do not wait. Contact someone whom you feel you can trust. You can contact:

Toll-free Hotline, Diocese of Savannah: (888) 357-5330
George Trexler, president of the Parish Pastoral Council (saintpio "at" darientel.net)
Gloria Whatley, parish secretary (parish office telephone 912-437-4750)
Fr. Timothy McKeown, Pastor for Nativity (tmckeown "at" diosav "dot" org)
Fr. Christopher Ortega, Parochial Vicar for Nativity (cortega "at" diosav "dot" org)
Diocesan Office for Child & Youth Protection - Stephen Williams, director (912-201-4073)
Diocesan Victim Assistance contact person Rosemary Downing (912-201-4074)
link to diocesan "Report of allegation of sexual abuse of a minor" (pdf)

All these people will respect your confidence.

If you believe that the actions involved were illegal, you are urged to contact local law enforcement officials directly. You do not need to wait for any Church officials before contacting the police.