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A LETTER FROM BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY, D.D.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In his First Letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul reminds us that “Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” (I Corinthians 4:1-2)
Every person given responsibility to oversee our physical and material resources must indeed be a wise steward, a good steward and an honest steward. When there is transparency, shared values and mutual responsibility, we flourish as a Church and as a diocese. This is a self-evident truth that must be respected in every single diocese and in every single parish. We are strong when we do this. We are credible when we do this. If we go down a different path, we are not practicing good stewardship of that which has been entrusted to us.
In the daily work and ministry of our parishes and diocesan offices, we set the highest possible standards for ourselves
and we expect everyone to follow these standards, especially in observing our Code of Pastoral Conduct, as well as all
of our other policies and procedures.
In serving our people, our goal is very simple: To ensure that The Catholic Church is the safest place in our country
for children, youth and vulnerable adults. Our people deserve no less than this. It is a reality that we can document.
The resources available on our diocesan website demonstrate the standards and challenges that we must meet. Parishes are required to have a finance council – as does the diocese. Parishes are required to provide an annual financial report to their parishioners – as does the diocese. These diocesan reports are always available to you on our diocesan website: www.patersondiocese.org. We also have diocesan staff performing internal audits in order to monitor compliance by parishes with our policies and procedures.
A hotline is available on our diocesan website to allow employees, volunteers, vendors, parishioners and other interested parties to report serious concerns that they may have regarding suspected financial or other misconduct. EthicsPoint, an independent third-party company, administers this hotline. It is designed to provide a simple, safe means for reporting concerns about possible financial or other misconduct. Reports may be filed on this hotline via the web using our diocesan website, www.patersondiocese.org, or via phone through one of EthicsPoint’s trained specialists, toll free at 855-247-3140.
Thank you for joining with us in our commitment to the highest possible standards for our diocese and for our parishes. May we continue to work together to be good and faithful stewards.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Kevin J. Sweeney, D.D.
Bishop of Paterson
Select an Issue Type below
Accounting and Financial
Accounting and Auditing Matters
Details
The unethical systematic recording and analysis of the business and financial transactions associated with generally accepted accounting practices. (Examples include: misstatement of revenues, misstatement of expenses, misstatement of assets, misapplications of GAAP principles, wrongful transactions.)
Accounting, Auditing and Internal Financial Controls
Details
Concerns regarding questionable practices relating to accounting, auditing or internal financial controls.
Fraud & Theft
Conflict of Interest
Details
A conflict of interest is defined as a situation in which a person, an employee, or a professional, has a private or personal interest sufficient to appear to influence the objective exercise of his or her official duties. (Examples include: inappropriate vendor relations, bribery, giving/accepting gifts that might inappropriately influence an individual)
Donor Stewardship
Details
Funds directed to the diocese, parish, school or other institution have not been handled with the utmost truthfulness or not used in accordance with the donor's intentions and wishes. Failure to provide due care with respect to the donor, and/or donation. Injury to the public trust.
Falsification of Contracts, Reports or Records
Details
Falsification of, or making a material omission on, any forms, records or reports, including financial or accounting records, time sheets, employment applications, benefit applications, etc.
Theft
Details
The act of stealing; specifically: the wrongful taking and removing of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.
Violation of Policy
Details
Willful or innocent actions that are in direct violation of diocesan, parish, school or agency policy, procedures, code of conduct, and/or implied contractual responsibilities. (Examples include: hiring standards, safety, systems usage, standards of conduct, etc.)
Embezzlement
Details
To appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use. (Examples include: bookkeeping errors, misapplication of funds, and mishandling of cash)
Misuse of Assets or Services
Details
Use of diocesan, parish, school or agency resources or equipment without permission for non-business reasons.
Harassment, Intimidation & Inappropriate Behavior
Misconduct or Inappropriate Behavior
Details
Intentional wrongdoing; specifically the deliberate violation of a law.
Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying of Students
Details
Any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication that takes place on parish/diocesan school property, at any parish/diocesan school-sponsored function, or on a parish/diocesan school bus, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability; or any other distinguishing characteristic.
Discrimination, Harassment, intimidation or bullying of employees
Details
Any conduct that unreasonably interferes with an employee's work performance, creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile work environment, or adversely affects employment opportunities. This includes conduct that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived personal characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, or a mental, physical or sensory disability; or any other distinguishing characteristic. Workplace bullying is unreasonable behavior that generally is persistent, and that demeans, intimidates, and humiliates employees, either as individuals or as a group.
Workplace Misconduct
Details
Issues involving misconduct by employees that are perceived as inappropriate in the workplace such as violations of diocesan, parish, school or agency policy or safety requirements that are not adequately described by one of the other issues described.
Retaliation
Details
Verbal, physical or written discriminatory or harassing behavior toward an individual who has made a good faith report regarding a compliance issue, or who participates in the investigation or resolution of the issue.
Misconduct Involving Minors
Issues related to misconduct with minors and/or sexual abuse of minors can be reported by calling the Diocesan Response Team: MONSIGNOR T. MARK CONDON, (973) 777-8818 X 205 CHANCELLOR,(973) 777-8818, x248
OR
Dial toll-free, within the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and Canada:
855-247-3140
After you complete your report you will be assigned a unique code called a "report key." Write down your report key and password and keep them in a safe place. After 5-6 business days, use your report key and password to check your report for feedback or questions.
EthicsPoint is NOT a 911 or Emergency Service:
Do not use this site to report events presenting an immediate threat to life or property. Reports submitted through this service may not receive an immediate response. If you require emergency assistance, please contact your local authorities.
