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.
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:
As bishop Dendinger of Grand Island
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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:
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.
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What do I do if I suspect a case of abuse of a minor?
Abuse Hotline Number: To report sexual abuse of a minor by a Diocese of Savannah employee or volunteer,
call the abuse hotline number at 888-357-5330 or the Office for the Protection of Children and Young People, 912-201-4074.
To read the diocesan policy on sexual abuse of minors, go to www.diosav.org/childyouthprotection.
call the abuse hotline number at 888-357-5330 or the Office for the Protection of Children and Young People, 912-201-4074.
To read the diocesan policy on sexual abuse of minors, go to www.diosav.org/childyouthprotection.
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
Parish secretary (parish office telephone 912-437-4750)
Fr. Timothy McKeown, Pastor for Nativity (tmckeown "at" diosav "dot" org)
Fr. Christopher Hassel, Parochial Vicar for Nativity (chassel"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.
Toll-free Hotline, Diocese of Savannah: (888) 357-5330
Parish secretary (parish office telephone 912-437-4750)
Fr. Timothy McKeown, Pastor for Nativity (tmckeown "at" diosav "dot" org)
Fr. Christopher Hassel, Parochial Vicar for Nativity (chassel"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.