Safe Environment & Accountability
The Diocese of Saint Petersburg is committed to protecting children, youth, and vulnerable adults and fostering safe environments rooted in dignity and trust.
Through comprehensive policies, education, background screening, reporting procedures, and accountability measures, we strive to ensure that our parishes, schools, ministries, and programs remain safe places for all.
We comply with all applicable civil laws concerning the reporting of allegations of sexual abuse of minors to civil authorities and we fully cooperate in any investigation conducted by civil authorities, in accordance with state and federal law.
Any priest, deacon, employee, or volunteer who has committed even one act of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult is permanently removed from ministry.
Quick Links
Report
Abuse
Victim
Assistance
Safe Environment Training
Forms &
Documents
Our Mission
The Safe Environment Program (SEP) is mandated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, and certain Florida statutes to protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults from abuse, especially sexual abuse.
The Diocese of Saint Petersburg SEP programs are meant to enable children and vulnerable adults to feel secure and protected in their surroundings. We want our children and youth to feel free to receive a Catholic education and to experience healthy relationships. We want to foster a safe environment and to provide a healthy and loving relationship in the image of God for our vulnerable adults who may be sick and or shut-in, and for our elderly who may be suffering from the infirmities of aging.
“The Diocese is committed to protecting our vulnerable population, supporting survivors, and maintaining accountability with transparency and compassion.”
– Michael Craig, Director of Safe Environment Office
Victim Assistance
Pastoral care, support, and resources for survivors, their families, and parish communities.
Reporting Abuse
Learn how to report suspected abuse and access important contact information. All abuse must be reported to law enforcement or local authorities.
Background Screening
Information about fingerprinting and screening requirements. Note: All clergy, employees, and volunteers must have a background check.
Accountability & Transparency
Audits, review boards, reporting practices, and public accountability measures (publication of names).
A Message From Bishop Parkes
“As your Bishop, the most important thing I can do is to take steps to ensure that we, as the Church here in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, do everything reasonably possible to protect our children, youth, and vulnerable adults in our parishes, schools, and all other diocesan entities. Even one instance of abuse is one too many.
It is also important to say that with families, employees, volunteers, clergy, and religious working together on this critical issue, there has been a steep decline in the number of incidences and allegations. Nearly all allegations that have been received are at least 20 to 30 years old, and some are even older.
I offer my heartfelt prayers for the victims/survivors of clergy and others who abused their trust and have violated our children and youth. We must continue to be vigilant. I encourage anyone harmed as a minor by someone in ministry to come forward by contacting law enforcement and/or our Victim Assistance Coordinator.” read more…
Additional Information
Communications
The Diocese provides the following communications plan for implementing the Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People.
Resources
A collection of articles to assist anyone who may have the care, responsibility, and or supervision of a child, youth, or vulnerable adult.
USCCB
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Protection of Children and Young People.