By Patrick Downes

The Diocese of Honolulu has begun to order background checks on all new employees as mandated by the U.S. bishops in response to the nationwide clergy sex abuse scandal.

A background check to determine if a person has a criminal record in the area of sexual misconduct is one of the directives for dioceses listed the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” adopted by the bishops in 2002.

Father Joseph A. Grimaldi, the Delegate of the Diocesan Administrator, sent letters and instructions this week to pastors, parish administrators and heads of diocesan department explaining the process.

All parish and diocesan paid employees — including priests, deacons and religious — hired after Father Grimaldi’s letter is received, must undergo a background check. The diocese has hired Goodenow and Associates, Inc. to do the investigations. Parishes and diocesan departments will be charged $24 per background check.

Employee records will be kept at the location of employment and a copy filed at the diocesan chancellor’s office.

Hawaii’s Catholic schools already have a background check requirement. New school employees will not be required to undergo a second diocesan check.

Although the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People requires dioceses to “evaluate the background” of “all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors,” Hawaii law does not permit checks on persons already employed. So present diocesan employees will not be subject to background checks.

New church unpaid volunteers are not subject to background checks, but those 18 years and older must now fill out a simple volunteer application form for parish and diocesan records.