PARISHGUARD REPORTING HOTLINE

OUR FAITH COMMUNITY

As members of our Catholic faith community, each of us shares a responsibility to help foster an environment rooted in faith, integrity, dignity, accountability, responsible stewardship and trust. Whether we serve as clergy, religious, employees, volunteers, educators, parishioners, students, parents, or members of a ministry, our actions contribute to the trust and well-being of the communities we serve.

Our Catholic mission calls us to treat every person with dignity and respect, to act with honesty and integrity, and to be responsible stewards of the people, ministries, and resources entrusted to our care. When something does not seem right, raising a concern can be an important part of protecting our community and helping Church leadership respond appropriately.

ParishGuard provides a safe and trusted way to raise concerns, either anonymously or by identifying yourself. This reporting service is an additional resource and does not replace the other avenues available within your parish, school, ministry, diocese, or Catholic organization. We encourage individuals to speak openly through the channel they believe is most appropriate and to raise concerns in good faith.

Our goal is simple: to help ensure concerns can be heard, thoughtfully reviewed, and appropriately addressed while supporting a culture of transparency, accountability, stewardship, and care.

Anonymous Reporting

You may choose to remain anonymous when submitting a report. All reports and concerns should be made in good faith and with honesty, fairness, and as much accurate information as possible.

If you wish to remain anonymous, please do not provide your name or other information that could identify you. ParishGuard allows for confidential, two-way communication so that you may continue to communicate about your concern without revealing your identity. This reflects the secure and anonymous follow-up functionality envisioned for ParishGuard.

Providing complete and accurate information can be important when reviewing a concern. We encourage you to return to ParishGuard periodically in case additional information or clarification is requested.

Every effort will be made to appropriately protect confidentiality. However, depending upon the nature and circumstances of a concern, information provided in a report may become part of an internal or external review or investigation, and complete anonymity cannot be guaranteed in every circumstance.

Concerns should always be raised honestly and in good faith. Retaliation against an individual for making a good-faith report or participating in a review of a concern is not acceptable.

Submitting a Report

You may submit a report through this website or, if you prefer to speak with someone, call 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX to speak with a trained reporting specialist.

Reports are received by experienced professionals who are focused on gathering clear, meaningful information while treating each individual with dignity and compassion.

After submitting your report, you will receive a Report ID and create your own PIN. Please keep this information in a safe place. You can use your Report ID and PIN to return to ParishGuard, review the status of your report, respond to follow-up questions, communicate securely, or provide additional information.

If you choose to remain anonymous, this feature provides an important way to continue communicating while protecting your identity.

Information submitted through ParishGuard, including information contained in a partially completed report, may be collected by Veritas Solutions Group, an independent party, and provided to the appropriate individuals in your organization for review and response.

This Is NOT 911 or an Emergency Service

Do not use ParishGuard to report an event presenting an immediate threat to life, safety, or property. Reports submitted through this service may not receive an immediate response.

If someone is in immediate danger or requires emergency assistance, contact 911 or the appropriate local emergency authorities.

Reports of Sexual Abuse or Misconduct Involving Minors or Vulnerable Persons

ParishGuard is not intended to receive reports of suspected sexual abuse or sexual misconduct involving a minor or vulnerable person. Such matters should be reported promptly in accordance with the procedures established by the applicable diocese or Catholic organization, including contacting its designated victim assistance or safe-environment representative and the appropriate civil authorities when required.

If someone is in immediate danger, contact 911 or the appropriate local emergency authorities.

Matters to Report

ParishGuard is intended to provide members of the Catholic community with a trusted way to raise serious concerns involving the people, ministries, operations, resources, or responsibilities of the Church.

Concerns may include, but are not limited to:

• Financial Misconduct or Stewardship Concerns — suspected fraud, theft, misuse of funds, improper financial practices, or misuse of Church property or resources.
• Ethical or Professional Conduct — behavior inconsistent with applicable standards of conduct, organizational policies, or expectations of integrity and professionalism.
• Harassment, Discrimination, or Inappropriate Conduct — concerning treatment, behavior, or interactions involving clergy, employees, volunteers, parishioners, students, or others within the faith community.
• Other Safe Environment or Protection Concerns — concerns involving safety, protection, or well-being that are not subject to the separate reporting procedures described above for suspected sexual abuse or sexual misconduct involving a minor or vulnerable person.
• Conflicts of Interest, Corruption, or Fraud — suspected violations of law, regulation, organizational policy, or ethical responsibilities.
• Privacy, Confidentiality, or Information Security — inappropriate access, disclosure, handling, or use of confidential, personal, sacramental, financial, or organizational information.
• Misuse of Church Property or Resources — inappropriate use of facilities, technology, donations, assets, property, or other resources entrusted to a Catholic organization.
• Policy or Compliance Concerns — suspected violations of applicable diocesan, parish, school, ministry, or organizational policies and procedures.
• Other Serious Misconduct — any other conduct that may threaten the integrity, safety, stewardship, or trust of the Catholic community.

Report Review & Resolution

Reports submitted through ParishGuard are provided to the appropriate designated representatives of the Catholic organization for review. The response to each report will depend upon the nature, circumstances, and information available regarding the concern.

An initial review may be conducted to determine appropriate next steps, which could include requesting additional information, referring the matter to the appropriate Church leadership or responsible department, conducting further review or investigation, or taking other appropriate action.

Some concerns may be addressed without a formal investigation, while others may require a more extensive response. ParishGuard is designed to help Catholic leaders receive meaningful information early so they can respond with wisdom, compassion, accountability, and care.

You are encouraged to return to ParishGuard using your Report ID and PIN to check for updates, review questions, provide additional information, and continue communicating about your report.

Thank you for helping us protect the dignity of every person, responsibly steward the gifts entrusted to our care, and strengthen trust throughout our Catholic faith community.