Article 4 of the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” states: “Dioceses are to report an allegation of sexual abuse of a person who is a minor to the public authorities. Dioceses are to comply with all applicable civil laws with respect to the reporting of allegations of sexual abuse of minors to civil authorities and cooperate in their investigation in accord with the law of the jurisdiction in question.”
Step One: Report to TDFPS
Please contact the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) within 48 hours at the 24-hour Child Abuse Reporting Hotline at 1-800-252-5400.
For reporting emergencies, call local Law Enforcement at 911.
Article 2 of the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” states: “Dioceses are to have policies and procedures in place to respond promptly to any allegation where there is reason to believe that sexual abuse of a minor has occurred.”
Step Two: Report to the following
The Pastor of the Parish or Principal of the School
In all cases, contact: Vicar General – Very Rev. R. Anthony Mendoza (956) 727-2140 ext. 7872
If you are not sure how to report, please get in touch with the following diocesan personnel for additional guidance and information:
Isabel Rodriguez
Safe Environment Coordinator
1901 Corpus Christi St.
Laredo, Texas 78040
(956) 764-7808
Step Three: Report to the Victim Assistance Coordinator
The Diocese of Laredo is committed to offering and providing assistance to victims. To begin the healing process for victims, please get in touch with the Interim Victim Assistance Coordinator.
Melinda Sepulveda
1901 Corpus Christi St.
Laredo, Texas 78040
(956) 764-7868
Thank you for partnering with the Diocese of Laredo to maintain a safe environment. We appreciate your collaboration and concern for minors.
Safe Environment Requirements
All church personnel and volunteers must complete the following forms and training:
All forms must be sent for processing to The Office of Safe Environment before volunteer service/employment with the diocese.
To access the Safe Environment Training site, go to https://laredo.cmgconnect.org/ and create a new account or log in to your existing account. Once you log in, the required training will await you on the main dashboard. Should there be problems with the registration or course process, technical support is available on the training site, or a call can be made at 1-888-804-9643.
The Office of Human Resources conducts reference checks for prospective employees.
The Office of Human Resources maintains a central database of all church personnel and volunteers. Parishes and Schools must forward all completed new hire employee and volunteer forms to HR.
Safe Environment Resources
Safe environment programs are established for the primary purpose of education and prevention of child abuse in the church. The numerous facets of these programs include relevant curricula to educate children on what sexual abuse is and how to recognize it, how to disclose sexual abuse, how to keep safe from sexual predators, and the treatment available to those already victimized.
Moreover, the safe environment program includes components for parents and resources on how to keep their children safe and how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse, as well as to work in coordination with the church to maintain a safe environment for all children and young people.
5 Ways to Protect Your Children From Sexual Abuse (English/Spanish)
Signs of Abuse in Minors (English/Spanish)
Being a Trusted Adult (English/Spanish)
Internet Safety at Home (English/Spanish)
Social Media Safety for Teens (English/Spanish)
Youth Suicide Prevention (English)
Talk to Teens About Sexting (English/Spanish)
Think Before You Send (English/Spanish)
Safe Environment Training-Children
The Diocese of Laredo remains firmly committed to the Chapter for the Protection of Children and Young People. As agreed upon by the Bishops of the United States in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in June 2002, each diocese will “provide education and training” about “ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children.” The 2018 revision of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People reaffirms the deep commitment of the Bishops of the United States to create a safe environment within the Church for children and youth.
Most Reverend James A. Tamayo issued a decree on May 22, 2019, stating that we will continue fulfilling our responsibility to educate children concerning this critical information through the program Circle of Grace: Safe Environment Training. This program replaced the previous program named Learning about L.I.F.E. – Life, Infatuation, Friendship, Exploitation (L.I.F.E.).
It is our responsibility as a Diocese to ensure that our parishes, missions, and schools implement these programs for the safety of our children. The Office of Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation, in collaboration with the Office of Safe Environment, provides training, curriculum for children in grades K-12, parent resources, and conducts site visits to aid religious education staff with the successful implementation of the program at each of our parishes and schools.
