Safe Environments

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My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with deep gratitude that I write to you, on behalf of the entire diocese, to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering dedication and service to your parish. Your ministry is vital to the life of the Church, and without your tireless efforts, we could not carry out the mission entrusted to us —“to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole of creation” (Mark 16:15).

As followers of Christ and stewards of the Church, we are called to protect all members of our community. In a special way, we are entrusted with the sacred responsibility of safeguarding the most vulnerable among us: our children and vulnerable adults.

Recognizing this, I am implementing updates, recommended by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to the safe environment policies of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of the USA, which will strengthen our commitment to ensuring that all who walk through our doors enter into a safe and secure environment.

The full details of these updates are available on the diocesan website via protect.chaldeanchurch.org. I ask that you take a moment to familiarize yourself with these changes, as they are a reflection of our collective duty to upholding the dignity and sanctity of all individuals within our parishes.

Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude for all that you do in your parish. Together, let us continue to work with joy and faith to help make our parishes places of encounter with the living Christ — a place where all may come to know His love and mercy.

Your Servant in Christ,
+Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat

Safe Environment Training: Protecting God’s Children Program

The Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle is committed to the safety and well-being of our young people and vulnerable adults. To uphold our commitment, we provide Safe Environment Training as part of the Protecting God’s Children program, ensuring compliance with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

New Updates to the Program

As we continue to improve our efforts, the following updates have been made to the Protecting God’s Children program to ensure the highest standards of safety:

  • VIRTUS Online Platform: The Chaldean Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle will use the VIRTUS online platform to facilitate course enrollment and track certification records. VIRTUS provides an efficient, secure system for all volunteers and employees. If you have previously been certified, you already have an account on VIRTUS. Please contact them directly to recover your username and password. More information can be found below under “Recertification for Adults”

Training Requirements for Adults

New Volunteers and Employees

If you have never taken a Protecting God’s Children course before and have never been certified, please follow the following steps:

  • STEP 1. Create a new account. FOR FIRST TIME REGISTRANTS ONLY. CLICK HERE
  • STEP 2.  Attend a LIVE Protecting God’s Children 4.0 workshop in-person (via Zoom will soon become available as well, check the diocese website for updates). You can view a list of workshops throughout the diocese and register via protect.chaldeanchurch.org. The sessions are approximately 3 hours long and are available in both English and Arabic. 
  • STEP 3: Log into your VIRTUS account and go to “online training modules” and complete the online course Vulnerable Adults 2.0 (approximately 40 minutes).
  • STEP 4. Sign the Code of Conduct and agree to undergo a background check. 

Recertification for All Adults

If you were certified before 2022, you must recertify. Recertification will be required every 3 years and within 3 months of certification expiration. 
 
REMEMBER: If you have taken a Protecting God’s Children Course anytime since 2002, you more than likely have an account on VIRTUS. Simply retrieve it via “Step 1″ below. 
 
  • Step 1. Sign into your account via virtusonline.org. If you have lost your login information, use the username/password recovery option or contact the VIRTUS helpdesk at [email protected] or call 888-847-8870. 
  • Step 2. Once you are in your account, go to “online training modules” and click “Protecting God’s Children Awareness Session 4.0 and Vulnerable Adults Combined.”
  • Step 3. Complete Online Protecting God’s Children 4.0 and Vulnerable Adults course. You may also attend an in-person workshop as well, which are listed on protect.chaldeanchurch.org. 
  • Step 4. Sign the Code of Conduct and agree to undergo a background check. 

Important Dates and Notes:

  • Implementation Date: The updated requirements will take effect on Monday, August 4, 2025.
  • Grace Period: A grace period will be provided from August 4 to October 13, 2025, to allow parishes to ensure that all employees and volunteers are fully certified.
  • Deadline: Beginning October 14, 2025, individuals who have not signed the Code of Conduct, submitted background check information, or completed the necessary Protecting God’s Children courses will not be allowed to volunteer or be employed in any parish throughout the Chaldean Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle.

Training Sessions:

  • In-person Workshops: At least two live workshops will be held each month during this transition period.

We encourage all members of our community to complete the required training promptly to continue volunteering or working with the Diocese. Together, we can create a safe environment for everyone.

For questions or more information, please contact our office at [email protected] or (248) 351-0440.

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