Protecting God's Children

Safe Environment at St. Ann

We are here to listen and take action.

Archdiocese of Atlanta’s

 24-Hour
Abuse Reporting Hotline: 

 1-888-437-0764

Hotline to Report Abuse by a Bishop
reportbishopabuse.org or 1-800-276-1562

Learn about Reporting Abuse
Archdiocese’s Guidance on Reporting Child Abuse

The Catholic Church of St. Ann and the Archdiocese of Atlanta are committed to helping children and young people learn and grow in a healthy and safe environment. Our volunteers, clergy and staff have been specially trained to keep our young people safe. 

A set of procedures handed down by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002 and updated regularly is the foundation of St. Ann’s safe environment policy. 

•Training: St. Ann offers safe environment training through a program called

    VIRTUS: Protecting God’s Children.

The parish requires all volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults to go through this course every five years. Sign up for VIRTUS workshops.

•Mandatory reporting: All clergy, staff and volunteers are required to report to state authorities if they have cause to suspect a child is being abused. If you think a child is being abused, take action.

•Background checks: Staff and volunteers are required to submit to a background check every five years. 

•Campus security: Only credentialed staff can access classrooms during programming hours. Staff has also received active shooter and firearms protocol information.

•Launch Children’s Ministry: St. Ann’s religious education program for elementary school-aged children has developed policies to ensure the safety of our parish youth. 

•Social media policy: St. Ann’s communications department has implemented social media policies recommended by the archdiocese, including having employees overseeing social media accounts and restricting access by youth to staff and volunteer accounts.

We are here to listen and take action:

Archdiocesan 24-hour abuse reporting hotline: 1-888-437-0764

Abuse hotline for bishops only: reportbishopabuse.org or 1-800-276-1562

Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Child and Youth Protection: archatl.com/offices/child-and-youth-protection or 404-920-7550

FAQ

What is the hierarchy of the church doing in response to the revelations concerning sexual abuse?
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People: usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/charter.cfm

Safe Environment Office: archatl.com/ministries-services/safe-environment/

How do I contact the hierarchy and make my voice known?

Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv.

Archbishop of Atlanta 

2401 Lake Park Drive 

Smyrna, GA 30080 

Email: archbishop@archatl.com 

Most Rev. Christophe Pierre, apostolic delegate 

Apostolic Nunciature 

3339 Massachusetts Ave 

Washington, D.C., 20008 

202-333-7121 

Email: nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org   

Most Rev. Daniel DiNardo 

President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 

3211 Fourth St., N.E. 

Washington, D.C. 20017-1104 

(202) 542-3000 

Email contact form: usccb.org/about/contact-us.cfm

Pope Francis 

His Holiness, Pope Francis 

Apostolic Palace 

00120, Vatican City 

What are the causes of such behavior? 

Separating facts about clergy abuse from fiction: psychologytoday.com/us/blog/do-the-right-thing/201808/separating-facts-about-clergy-abuse-fiction 

Clergy sex abuse not about gay priests: cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/09/10/clergy-sex-abuse-not-about-gay-priests-top-psychologist-says/ 

 

Where can I go to read more about keeping my children safe? 

Create safe environments at school, church, home: archatl.com/offices/child-and-youth-protection/resources/ 

Technology safety through the eyes of faith: faithandsafety.org 

Virtus parent handbook: virtusonline.org/virtus/ParentHandbook.pdf 
   

Where can I go to read more about the sex abuse crisis? 

Crux: cruxnow.com 

National Catholic Reporter: ncronline.com 

Catholic News Service: catholicnews.com