The Diocese of Gallup is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all who live and worship in our diocese. To ensure that all children and vulnerable people are protected throughout the diocese, the following requirements are in place:

Letter from the Bishop (Updated January 5, 2023)
Click to Read or Download

Letter from the Chancellor with Background Check Instructions (January 9, 2023)
Click to Read or Download

Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Minors (PPPM)
(Click to read or download) | En Español

Relevant Policies/Forms:
Pastoral Code of Ethics
Master Catalog Index – Current
Pastoral Code of Ethics (Spanish)
Official Personnel Policy
Social Media Policy
Official Email Policy
Appendix IV: Reporting Form for Abuse of a Minor
Appendix VIII: Diocese of Gallup Transportation Policy
Appendix XIX: Reporting a Bishop

Report Concerns

Safe Environment Training Requirements
(For all employers, employees and affected volunteers: foundational and ongoing)

The Diocese of Gallup has put into place a process that assists in keeping our young and vulnerable people safe, by a thorough screening process. Appendix XII: Safe Environment Training Implementation

The screening process involves completing an application, interviews, signing a code of ethics and a background check which includes reference checks for all clergy, religious, seminarians, employees, volunteer leaders responsible for youth programs and those volunteers who work directly with minors or vulnerable persons. (The latter are otherwise known as “Affected Volunteers”).

• Diocesan Employment Application
• Appendix VI: Volunteer Application Form
• Appendix VII: Youth Volunteer Acknowledgement
• Appendix III: Code of Ethics Acknowledgement Form
• Appendix V: Background Clearance Forms
• Appendix XIV: Face-to-face interview examples

For definition of “affected” Volunteers go here: Appendix I: Directory of Terms

All employees and affected volunteers who minister with minors must have or will have the juvenile sexual abuse training awareness program VIRTUS; virtus.org.  This training requires a preliminary session-(phase one)- and then ongoing training-(phase two). See pp. 7-8 in the PPPM for further details.

Please call the Diocese Safe Environment for initial foundational setup of SET for new employees:
505-863-4406.

All parents of minors that participate in any activity associated with the Catholic Church are offered VIRTUS training.

Additional Aids for Diocesan Entities from the PPPM:

Appendix XI: Safe Environment Checklist for Employees | En Español
Appendix XIV: Face-to-face interview examples | En Español
Appendix II: Interactions and behaviors | En Español
Appendix IV: Reporting form for abuse of a minor | En Español
Appendix VIII: Diocese of Gallup Transportation Policy | En Español
Appendix IX: Driver information form | En Español
Appendix X: Safe environment outside organization compliance form | En Español
Appendix XIII: Packet for travel chaperones | En Español
Appendix XVI: Eligibility for employees and volunteers with criminal convictions | En Español
Appendix XVIII: Guest speaker/performer/missionary work approval form | En Español
Appendix I: Directory of terms | | En Español
Youth Ministry Manual

Safe Environment Curriculum:

The following are the curricula allowed by the Diocese of Gallup for the schools and catechetical programs. Please contact the Safe Environment Office for access to handouts and information on how to use the programs, if necessary.

1) Promise to Protect by Virtus.org.

This is a K-12 program with teacher instruction, videos and handouts in English and Spanish. Please contact the Safe Environment Office in order to make sure your DRE principals, teachers have the “educator access” to access the videos and written material.Parental form for Touching Safety  Program Opt-Out or Permission Form

2) Protect Yourself  
This is a video program, with simple handouts, produced by the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center for younger children only.

The videos and worksheets are available here:

• • Protect Yourself Rules – Grades K-3 (All Lessons)
  • https://fightchildabuse.org/k-3-protect-yourself-rules/
  • https://fightchildabuse.org/k-3-activities/#student_sheets
  • Protect Yourself Rules – Grades 4-6 (All Lessons)
  • https://fightchildabuse.org/4-6-protect-yourself-rules/
  • https://fightchildabuse.org/4-6-activities/#student_sheets
  • Online Safety for Grades 4-6 – or older
  • Parental form for Protect Yourself  Opt-In, Opt-Out Program

3) Circle of Grace

This is an instructional program for grades K-12, available in English and in Spanish.

It does not have videos,

“This curriculum uniquely honors parents by having them actively participate in teaching and reinforcing the Circle of Grace concepts.  It gives comprehensive guidance and lessons to the leaders who teach Circle of Grace to our children while the parents dialogue about important safety issues in today’s culture. It is structured to have family education before and after the separate groupings of parents and children. In this way the family fully embraces Circle of Grace concepts.  

It is to be used for parish religious education programs that gather families together for one night or the whole year. Schools may also desire to use this to teach Circle of Grace in the family gathering.”

A two part training video for teachers’  can be accessed ONLY by request of the Safe Environment Office due to the copyright issues.  Then the link will be sent immediately.

Annual Charter Audit Requirements for All Diocesan Entities

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is a comprehensive set of procedures established by the USCCB in June 2002 for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by persons representing the Catholic Church. The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse.

Find the Charter here.

Following the guidelines set by the Charter, the Diocese of Gallup is committed to protecting minors and vulnerable adults. Audit REQs are to be completed by June 30 of every year. For knowledge of diocesan employees’ SET compliance (VIRTUS’ Master Report), all diocesan pastors and employers should contact the SEO office.

Forms and Aids with which the Diocese of Gallup’s Parishes, Schools and Diocesan Entities can comply with the annual Charter Requirements:

• Parish entity compliance cover letter (2022-2023)
• Parish entity compliance audit form (2022-2023)
• School compliance cover letter
• School compliance audit form
• Roadmap for audit success
• Master Record for Tracking Requirements (Form)
• Appendix I: Directory of Terms
• Appendix XIV: Face-to-Face Interview Examples