If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by a priest, religious or lay person working for the Church, and you need a place to talk with someone about your feelings of betrayal or hurt by the Church, contact the Victim Services Coordinator, Office for Healing and Prevention, 508-929-4363, direct line. A 24-hour-a-day confidential voicemail is available.
Anyone in the diocese that works with youth in any way is required to complete Safe Environment Training. This includes most people who volunteers within our parish, including Eucharistic ministers, lectors, and anyone who helps in our Religious Education program and/or our Youth Ministry. If you are thinking of volunteering you might want to get this training in preparation. The training is free and can be completed online or in an on-site training session. For more information visit the Diocesan Safe Environment webpage. As part of the training everyone is asked to read the Code of Ministerial Conduct.
To learn more about the issue of sexual abuse in the Church and how the Church deals with it, visit the Diocese of Worcester's Office of Healing and Prevention webpages on our diocesan website.