Code of Pastoral Conduct
- Preface
- Preamble
- Responsibility
- Pastoral Standards
- Conduct
- Confidentiality
- Conduct with Minors
- Sexual Conduct
- Harassment
- Records & Information
- Conflicts of Interest
- Reporting & Disclosure
- Administration
- Staff & Volunteer Well-Being
- Volunteer Conduct
Sexual Misconduct Policy
- Definitions
- Personnel
- Legal Guidelines
- Education
- Policy Distribution
- Background Checks
- Reporting & Investigating Allegations
- Reports of Harassment
- False Accusations
Appendices
- Policies & Procedures of the Review Board
- Code of Conduct
- Cue Card for Reporting Abuse
- Implementation
- Parish Checklist
Code of Pastoral Conduct
2. Confidentiality
Information disclosed to a Pastoral Counselor or Spiritual Director
during the course of counseling, advising, or spiritual direction shall
be held in the strictest confidence.
2.1 Information obtained in the course of sessions shall be confidential, except for compelling professional reasons or as required by law (regarding minors, see 2.4 below).
2.1.1 If there is clear and imminent danger to the client or to others, the Pastoral Counselor or Spiritual Director should report the case to law enforcement and the local state Office of Children’s Services (hereafter referred to as OCS).
2.1.2 Before disclosure is made, if feasible, the Pastoral Counselor or Spiritual Director should inform the person being counseled about the disclosure and the potential consequences.
2.2 Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors should discuss the nature of confidentiality and its limitations with each person in counseling, at the outset of counseling.
2.3 Knowledge that arises from professional contact may be used in teaching, writing, homilies, or other public presentations only when effective measures are taken to safeguard both the individual’s identity and the confidentiality of the disclosures.
2.4 While counseling a minor, if a Pastoral Counselor or Spiritual Director discovers that there is a serious threat to the welfare of the minor and that communication of confidential information to a parent or legal guardian is essential to the child’s health and well-being, the Counselor or Spiritual Direction should:
- In cases where the parent or legal guardian is considered to be a serious threat to the welfare of the minor, report the situation to OCS.
- Disclose only the information necessary to protect the health and well-being of the minor.
2.5 These obligations are independent of the confidentiality required by the seal of confession and by law. Under no circumstances whatsoever can there be any disclosure—even indirect disclosure—of information received under the seal of confession.
