Code of Conduct for Activities Involving Minors

Every human being is a child of God. Christian charity should guide all interactions between all individuals in Activities of the Prelature with Minors. Christian charity demands refined speech, refined behavior, and refined respect for other persons and their dignity. The Prelature has zero tolerance for any abuse of minors who participate in Activities of the Prelature with Minors, perpetrated by any adult or minor in connection with Activities of the Prelature with Minors.

This Code of Conduct applies to all Personnel of the Prelature and Adult Participants in their interactions with minors in Activities of the Prelature with Minors, regardless of whether the interactions occur during or outside of a scheduled Activity of the Prelature with Minors. For clarification about any guideline or about anything not specifically addressed here, speak with the Activity Director.

1. We do not tolerate any abuse of minors in connection with Activities of the Prelature
with Minors, whether perpetrated by another minor or an adult. Abuse of a minor will result in disciplinary action, possibly including dismissal or termination from Activities of the Prelature with Minors and the Prelature’s cooperation with law enforcement.

2. Whenever an individual adult is with an individual minor, they should always remain in
view of other people and avoid being alone in any isolated place. When meeting in a room, they should meet with the door open or with a window in the door
allowing them to be easily seen.

3. Priests should hear confessions and give spiritual direction to minors only in a
confessional with a screen, in a room with a window in the door allowing them to be easily seen, or in a place where they are in the sight of other people (but out of earshot). Priests should hear the confessions and give spiritual direction to females
only in a confessional with a screen.

4. Priests will not provide spiritual direction to minors through electronic means.
Spiritual direction may only be provided in person.

5. No adult should ever be alone with a minor in a bedroom. No minors should ever be in an adult’s bedroom, and it is better if they do not enter the adult residents’
area of a building.

6. In overnight activities, the Priest should have his own bedroom.

7. Any overnight activities or one-day trips should include a sufficient ratio of Personnel of the Prelature to minors, and never fewer than two Personnel of the Prelature.

8. In overnight activities, no adult should share a bedroom (or tent) with minors. Minors
should sleep either in single rooms or in rooms with three or more.

9. Adults and minors should have separate bathrooms, showers, and/or changing areas, or
use the bathroom, showers, and/or changing areas at separate times. No adult should use the bathroom, shower, or dress in the presence of minors and vice-versa. Whenever minors need to dress with other minors present, they should be instructed to use bathrobes or at least towels. All showers should be individual showers or have individual stalls. There should never be two minors alone together in a bathroom, changing area, or showering area, unless adults are supervising. Whenever supervision is necessary, at least two adults should stand outside the bathroom entrance, shower room, or changing area, and at least two adults should enter the bathroom, shower room,
or changing area together.

10. An adult should never be alone in a vehicle with a minor. If adults need to drive minors, there should be a minimum of three people in the car (two adults and one minor, or one adult and two minors). The only exception may be an emergency, such as driving a minor injured during an activity to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care.

11. Before a minor attends an overnight activity, Personnel of the Prelature
must obtain written approval from the minor’s Parent.

12. Adults and minors must never taunt, intimidate, belittle, bully or
otherwise verbally abuse other minors.

13. Adults must avoid any physical contact that is sexual or could be misconstrued as sexual. In this area, it is better to err on the side of caution.
Wrestling and rough-housing should be avoided.

14. Adults must never invite or aid minors to smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. The possession and use of marijuana are always prohibited, regardless of its legality.

15. Personnel of the Prelature may exchange activity-related text messages with high school students (and not with younger students), but only after obtaining
general approval from the minor’s Parent.

16. Personnel of the Prelature may speak by phone or audio chat with a minor, but only after obtaining general approval from the minor’s Parent. Personnel of the Prelature may interact with minors through video calls only within view of other Personnel of the Prelature or if the minor is within the view of his or her Parent. Prior to the minor completing 7th grade, for each audio or video interaction Personnel of the Prelature must first speak with the minor’s Parent before asking to speak with the minor.

17. Personnel of the Prelature and a minor may meet with each other outside of regularly
scheduled activity hours, but only after obtaining general approval from the minor’s Parent and only if all other policies are followed.

18. Adults are prohibited from giving individualized gifts to minors, unless a minor’s Parent has approved a particular gift for their child.

19. Adults must never give or show to a minor pornographic or indecent media or materials. In speaking about matters related to the virtue of chastity, it is best to emphasize the positive aspects of the ascetical struggle.

20. The access, display, production, possession, or distribution of pornography through any of the Prelature’s property or equipment, or in association with any Activities of the Prelature with Minors, is strictly prohibited.

21. Anyone who knows or reasonably suspects that a minor has been abused in connection
with any of the Prelature’s activities must immediately inform the Activity Director or call the Prelature’s reporting Helpline, 646-742-2741. In many States, the law requires adults who work with minors to report to State authorities known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect. All Personnel of the Prelature will undergo training on abuse reporting requirements in their State.

22. The Prelature takes every suspicion or allegation of abuse seriously and will cooperate with civil authorities to investigate suspected or alleged abuse. Personnel of the Prelature are required to cooperate with any outside or internal investigation of suspected or alleged abuse of minors. Failure to cooperate may be grounds for termination from Activities of the Prelature with Minors.

23. If a minor says that he/she has been abused, Personnel of the Prelature should listen
calmly without disputing the story, ask for pertinent details (who, when, what), and tell him/her that he/she will speak to the Activity Director. The minor should be encouraged to tell his/her Parent.