We will listen to your needs and support you. We will help you make a formal complaint and arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his delegate. We encourage you to come forward and speak out.

When you call to make a report, please remember:

• Your report is a request for an investigation, not an accusation.
• You should report EACH incident of suspected abuse so it may be investigated.

Once the report is made to the proper authorities, it is recommended the immediate supervisor/Pastor be informed by the person making the report. If support is needed, the immediate supervisor/Pastor may be notified.

Please follow all applicable civil laws for reporting instances of suspected child abuse. Click here to see a summary of these laws for Louisiana.

The initial report may be verbal, and should contain the following information, if known:

• Name, address, age, sex and race of the child
• Nature, extent and cause of child’s injuries or endangered condition, including any previous known or suspected abuse to the child or child’s siblings
• Name and address of parent(s) or caretaker
• Names and ages of all other members of child’s household
• Name and address of the reporter
• Account of how child came to reporter’s attention
• Explanation of the cause of child’s injury or condition offered by child, the caretaker or any other person
• Any other information which the reporter believes might be important or relevant.

Upcoming VIRTUS Training Sessions:

The Diocese requires mandatory participation in the VIRTUS® sexual abuse awareness program for clergy, employees and commissioned volunteers.

The following are sessions currently scheduled throughout the diocese. Click on a date below and complete the registration process:

Sunday, October 6, 3:00 p.m., St. Mary’s Assumption School (CYO Building), COTTONPORT

Wednesday, October 9, 6:00 p.m., St. Joseph Catholic Center, 4400 Coliseum Blvd., ALEXANDRIA

23, de Octubre, 6:00 p.m., Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, 10 Camino del Cementerio de Mantequilla, Colina del Bosque, LA. Para registrarse, vaya a www.virtus.org

If you have any questions, please contact Kecia Coco, (318) 445-6424, ext. 213 or email kcoco@diocesealex.org.The Office of Safe Environment oversees the implementation of the diocesan program, “A Safe Environment for the Protection of Children and Young People.”  The office provides education resources for children, clergy, religious, and laity (employees and volunteers) in the prevention of and recognition of child abuse. This office is also responsible for processing criminal history checks on all clergy, religious, and laity who have contact with minors.