• Archdiocese

Responsible Pastoral Ministry

Accompanying people at risk in our communities

Responsible Pastoral Ministry

In order to ensure the safety and security of those to whom we bring the Gospel message, the Catholic Church of Montreal in 2016 adopted the Diocesan Pastoral Responsibility Policy with the purpose of providing a healthy and safe environment for all, while preventing any and all forms of abuse against vulnerable individuals. The pilot project was validated by the Archbishop in June 2018, and its implementation throughout the diocese is currently under way.

The Responsible Pastoral Ministry Service is in place to support the efforts of parishes, and diocesan organizations in the implementation of preventive measures, in the awareness and training activities carried out, and through support mechanisms guaranteeing the sound management and supervision of their paid and volunteer personnel.

Excerpt from Training (below)

Focus on the Victims of Abuse Training

The collaboration of all is important to achieve a major transformation for abuse prevention.

 

 

 

This program aims to raise awareness and train members of the clergy, pastoral staff, churchwardens and employees of the Fabriques, catechists (18 years and older) and PHC volunteers on the impact of abuse on victims and the importance of being vigilant and quickly denouncing any unacceptable or worrisome behaviour or situation. 
 

Here are a few inspiring testimonials from participants collected during the fall 2022 seminars:

 

“I came backwards, without conviction, because I thought that this training did not concern me. But I learned a lot and I think that this training is essential for everyone.” – Churchwarden”
“The session was very enlightening. I am glad the Archdiocese is the leader in the path of reconciliation.” – Catechist
“The creation of the Ombudsman position is fantastic. It gives me hope for the future of the Catholic Church.” – Secretary

 

 

1100 volunteers have already taken part in this training. 

More sessions will be offered in the fall of 2023. Stay tuned!

For more information, please contact the Pastoral Responsible Ministry at 514 925-4300 # 353.

Screening Process

Screening, a responsible process tied to human resource management, consists of carefully examining the candidacy of those who apply for a job, be it in a volunteer or paid position. This process clears the way to choosing the best candidates and to warding off, as much as possible, all those who might be susceptible to behaving inappropriately toward those who are vulnerable, be it children or adults.

Screening objectives

1- To create and maintain a safe and secure environment.

2- To assure that the chosen candidate possesses the necessary aptitudes to accomplish the task.

Screening steps

Ten stages of the screening process

Recruitment

Job description

The job description for positions of authority defines the tasks to be performed in the context of a particular service or of a pastoral activity. The task description establishes the precise rules and procedures to which all hired personnel in pastoral activities must conform. It also permits the proper evaluation of the risk level inherent in each task.

Job description model

Risk evaluation

Risk evaluation associated with a position represents a pivotal step if we want to choose the most adequate screening measures.  This evaluation, done beforehand, will be very useful to the directors of the screening process, and is comprised of 10 steps.

The following factors will serve to establish the risk level for a position of authority:
 

  • Profile of the participants or the beneficiaries (age of the people involved, physical state, degree of vulnerability);

  • Environment (location of the activity, physical disposition, public/private);

  • Nature of the activity (animation, counseling, visit);

  • Type of supervision (people present, direct, indirect, frequency);

  • Nature of the interactions (individual, group, intensity, intimacy).
     

Examples of risk factors

Recruitment process

It is strongly advised that all organizations adopt a formal recruitment process, whether for volunteers or for those in paid positions.

If you want to transition from an informal hiring context to a process that is more systemized, we recommend following these steps:
 

  • Provide a written statement that outlines the position of authority or the description of the associated tasks to the people involved;

  • Give written or oral explanations concerning the moral and legal obligation of submitting to administrative formalities, as much for any volunteers who wish to work for the community as for those applying for a paid position;

  • Provide information regarding the routine screening process that all candidates must submit to.

Selection

The admission or identification forms should be completed by all those who wish to occupy a position, or who already occupy a position. This form, which collects basic information (name, coordinates, work experience, references, etc.), will allow, as needed, the various diocesan organizations to proceed with regular verifications, according to the risk associated with the desired or occupied position.

Volunteer form
Employee form

 

Job interview

All new personnel offering their services on the diocesan or pastoral level must undergo a job interview, to be led by at least two interviewers. The candidate will answer questions pertaining to his or her human and professional development (formation and experience), his or her motivations, as well as all other subjects judged to be pertinent, with scrupulous respect to the fundamental rights of the person as granted by the laws and charters of Quebec.

Practical guide for interviews

Verification of references*

All candidates who wish to occupy a function (whether paid or not) in the diocese, must provide at least two references on his or her admission form. Those listed as references may be of several types: employers, association managers, pastors, community members, etc.; out of prudence, the listed references must have no family ties with the candidate. The verification of a reference is most often done over the phone and does not last longer than ten to twelve minutes.

Checklist for the verification of references

Verification of police check*

The verification of the police check is done within a protocol that exists between the SPVM and the Diocese of Montreal.  The diocesan pastoral responsibility service will inform the parishes and other organizations of the mode of application of this protocol.

*Steps reserved for people occupying a position with elevated risk.

Orientation and Evaluation

All hired personnel are considered on probation for a determined time, out of respect for the laws of Quebec. This probationary period, clearly outlined by the employer, will allow for the validation or cancellation of the choice of candidate for the position.  This probationary period is essentially the orientation and formation stage.

The orientation and formation stage allows the employer:
 

  • To review with the hired person what the task consist of, the objectives to be achieved and the expectations of the parish directors, as well as the internal functioning of the organization (procedures, relationships with authorities, responsibilities, etc.);
     
  • To familiarize the person with the diverse tools associated with their task (programs, catechetical processes, etc.);
     
  • To recognize that employee and volunteer have read and subscribed to the code of ethics and the code of conduct of the responsible pastoral policy.
     
  • To keep up to date employee and volunteers with any document necessary to complete the policy for responsible pastoral ministry, such as the guide to online activities, in our common concern to always promote a safe and healthy environment for our pastoral activities.

A volunteer candidate who has been accepted at a parish has an obligation to provide written (signed) agreement to respect the mutual commitment agreement.

Supervision and evaluation

The form and frequency of evaluations will vary according to the nature of the task (or the function) and the associated risks. For this reason, the supervision of any positions of trust will be regular and thorough.

The supervisor must therefore foresee the form and frequency of the evaluation of the person under his or her responsibility, keep that person informed, and as much as possible provide support in a positive way and tailor their professional development and the use of their talents.

Follow-up with participants

After the supervision and evaluation of pastoral personnel, whether volunteer or in a paid position, it is also necessary to assure a follow-up for the beneficiaries of the pastoral work (and their families, if necessary)

Regular meetings or telephone contact with the participants (and their families) of a program or activity will allow those responsible to assure their human and organizational quality. These follow-ups will also allow for the quick identification of a dysfunctional individual or of any malevolent intentions.

Training 2023

Focus on the Victims of Abuse Training

The collaboration of all is important to achieve a major transformation for abuse prevention.

 

 

 

This program aims to raise awareness and train members of the clergy, pastoral staff, churchwardens and employees of the Fabriques, catechists (18 years and older) and PHC volunteers on the impact of abuse on victims and the importance of being vigilant and quickly denouncing any unacceptable or worrisome behaviour or situation. 
 

Here are a few inspiring testimonials from participants collected during the fall 2022 seminars:

 

“I came backwards, without conviction, because I thought that this training did not concern me. But I learned a lot and I think that this training is essential for everyone.” – Churchwarden”
“The session was very enlightening. I am glad the Archdiocese is the leader in the path of reconciliation.” – Catechist
“The creation of the Ombudsman position is fantastic. It gives me hope for the future of the Catholic Church.” – Secretary

 

 

1100 volunteers have already taken part in this training. 

More sessions will be offered in the fall of 2023. Stay tuned!

For more information, please contact the Pastoral Responsible Ministry at 514 925-4300 # 353.

 

Please see the following documents:

Communiqués :

 

Module 1: It's not just about sexual abuse

 

 

Module 2: Struck to the core

Do you want to file a complaint? Contact the Ombudsman.

‘‘The Archdiocese of Montreal is committed to carrying out a thorough investigation in its search for the truth. To that end, it has mandated an Ombudsman, whose function will be autonomous and independent of the Church. Any person who calls upon the Ombudsman to file a complaint concerning any form of abuse or inappropriate behaviour, regardless of the age of the victim, will be welcomed by her with goodwill and compassion.

We want to ensure that victims are listened to and receive better support.

+ Christian Lépine
Archbishop of Montreal

  • Letter from the Archbishop
  • Documents concerning the processing of complaints
  • Episcopal reporting system
  • Report by the Honourable Justice Capriolo
  • Responsible pastoral ministry 
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 “Walk the Talk”

In an open letter published on September 8, 2018, in La Presse and The Gazette, Archbishop Lépine appeals to everyone within the Church to be resolute in tackling the issue of sexual abuse.


Bishop Reporting System

The Bishops of Canada launch a national, bilingual service for reporting situations of sexual abuse either committed or covered-up by a Bishop. This service furthers their commitment to responsibility, accountability and transparency in matters of clergy sexual abuse and their commitment to facilitate healing and justice for victims-survivors.

bishop-reporting-system.jpg

Filing a complaint

The Capriolo Report was released November 25, 2020. With the support of a Committee co-chaired by Archbishop Lépine and the Honourable Pepita G. Capriolo, we are undertaking to implement the recommendations contained in that Report. The end result will be an abuse complaint process that focuses on the victim, that examines all forms of abuse, and under which a victim’s age no longer constitutes a criterion for reporting a complaint. The existence of an Ombudsman, the creation of a lay Advisory Committee comprising five members, one of whom is a survivor, and the fact that investigations are conducted by external experts will ensure that each complaint is treated with all due diligence and respect.

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Video testimonial - Il faut le dire (currently available in French only)

 

Independent report by the Honourable Pepita G. Capriolo on the complaints against former priest Brian Boucher

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal has released the report of the independent investigation into the handling of complaints received about former priest Brian Boucher. The 276-page report by the Honourable Pepita G. Capriolo, a retired Quebec Superior Court judge, was made public at a press conference in her presence and that of Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal.

 

Nous avons diffusé un communiqué le 9 juin 2022 sur le rapport de l’honorable André Denis sur ses deux mandats portant sur l’examen des dossiers personnels de toutes les personnes vivantes, incluant les personnes actives ou à la retraite, ayant servi dans neuf diocèses, en 1940 et 2022, ainsi que sur un audit statistique afin de recenser les abus sexuels confirmés ou bien fondés, ayant été imputés à tout évêque, prêtre, diacre permanent, membre du personnel employé par un diocèse ou du personnel pastoral ayant œuvré en paroisse entre les années 1940 et 2021. 

  1. Communiqué du 9 juin 2022

  2. Rapport de l’honorable André Denis  
     

In June of 2016, our archbishop Most Rev. Christian Lépine published the Decree regarding the Diocesan Policy for Pastoral Responsibility, preparing for the implementation of a pilot project in some of the parishes of our diocese.
 
The time has now come to present the first summary of what was carried out by the parish pastoral teams that were part of this pilot project.

On this page you will find a monthly publication which will highlight the experiences of each of the parishes that were involved in the implementation of this policy. Three sections are presented: steps undertaken, challenges that were met with, and accomplishments, so as to recognize the efforts of those pastors and parish teams who put this pastoral responsibility into practice.

If you are a pastor of a parish within the diocese of Montreal and you would like to apply these new diocesan norms, please contact the diocesan coordinator of Pastoral Responsibility Services. It will be a pleasure to accompany you and to provide you with all of the necessary tools for this process.

The principal objective of the Diocesan Policy for Pastoral Responsibility is to assure a healthy and safe environment for all, while preventing all types of abuse of those who are vulnerable.

Pilot parish summaries:
 

Saint-Joachim

Saint-François-de-Montmorency-Laval

Sainte-Rose-de-Lima

Purification de la Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie and Notre-Dame-des-Champs

Notre-Dame-de-la-Trinité

Saint Donat

Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys

Saint-Théophile and Sainte-Dorothée

Saint Luke

The diocesan pastoral responsibility service wants all parishes, works and diocesan organizations to put into place a systemized screening process for salaried personnel and volunteers. Integrating this process of preventative measures into current systems of operations will allow us to achieve the objectives of the pastoral responsibility policy.

Contact information:

Responsible Pastoral Ministry
2000, rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Montréal (Qc)
H3H 1G4
(514) 925-4300, ext. 353 
pastoresponsable@diocesemontreal.org