DETROIT (MI)
The Detroit News
New policy requires police background search of employees
By George Hunter / The Detroit News
DETROIT — The Archdiocese of Detroit on Wednesday announced sweeping changes aimed at spotting and weeding out pedophiles.
Under the new rules, all Archdiocese employees will undergo criminal background checks. The Michigan State Police will administer the checks for free starting Sept. 2. Officials hope to have the investigations of the Archdiocese’s 5,000 employees and about 5,000 volunteers completed within a year.
“I think background checks are a good idea,” said the Rev. Jack Baker of St. Mary Parish in Wayne. “If you don’t have anything to hide, then there shouldn’t be a problem with having the police check your background.”
More than 400 priests from across Metro Detroit gathered Wednesday at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit to participate in “Protecting God’s Children,” a workshop that dealt with the dangers of sexual abuse, warning signs, and how to prevent and report abuse.
