Letter to the editor: Clearances should be diocesan responsibility
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As I was following the letters to the editor from parishioners who lost a beloved priest through a forced resignation, I felt sadness for the parishioners and the priest. But one letter especially caught my attention: “Father Moineau deserves better” (Sept. 11, TribLive).
He pointed out that the Diocese of Greensburg “assigns the responsibility of managing clearances to the lowest level, the parishes.” This hit home because I was a parish secretary who had the responsibility of maintaining, tracking and ensuring that all safe environment class sessions (assigned by the diocese) and appropriate clearances were up to date.
In smaller parishes, there is only one secretary, who sometimes is only part time. Keeping up to date with clearances for staff and all volunteers places a huge additional burden on that secretary.
The diocesan staff maintained that they are available to help the safe environment coordinator; however, there was no one at the diocesan level who would accept responsibility for anything other than suggestions. Why then would you expect a priest to accept that responsibility?
I believe the burden of maintaining clearances should be the responsibility of the diocesan pastoral center staff.
Connie Diven
Blairsville