YES. Members of the Knights of Columbus must remain informed of, and compliant with, diocesan and parish safe environment requirements generally applicable to all volunteers on diocesan and parish property.

• All prospective and new members of the Knights of Columbus are strongly encouraged to take an active role in the life of their parish and their council.
• Prospective and new members should also be promptly advised of any applicable parish/diocese safe environment policy requirements necessary to be eligible to volunteer on parish property, regardless of whether they do so in the name of the Church, the parish, or the Knights of Columbus.

PARISHIONERS. Knights volunteering in church or parish ministries serve in those ministries as parishioners first and witness to their Faith as members of the Knights of Columbus second.

• Service in church and parish ministries (e.g., ushers, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, etc.) is performed by parishioners.
• Knights of Columbus encourages its members to volunteer in church and parish ministries.
• Knights who volunteer in church or parish ministries do so as parishioners.
• Therefore, Knights serving in church or parish ministries are subject to diocesan requirements specific to those ministries.

YES. The Knights of Columbus does not rely on other organizations to fulfil its responsibility for protecting children and other vulnerable persons.

• The Knights of Columbus is responsible for ensuring that its members know Knights of Columbus Safe Environment/Youth Protection Policies and Procedures.
• Knights of Columbus conducts and maintains its own original background checks on those members serving in youth leader roles.
• Knights of Columbus is not allowed to access confidential, privileged, and otherwise legally protected files and records of other organizations.
• Knights of Columbus protects and preserves each member’s record of completion to protect the member and the Order.

Members volunteering in youth activities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on parish property serve as both Knights and parishioners.

• Knights who volunteer in youth activities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on parish property do so as both Knights and parishioners.
• Therefore, members volunteering in these youth activities are subject to both diocesan requirements and Knights of Columbus Safe Environment Program requirements.
• Knights who volunteer in non-youth activities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on parish property may be subject to diocesan requirements generally applicable to those who volunteer on diocesan and parish property.

To be updated soon! Thank you for your patience.

To be updated soon! Thank you for your patience.

Approximately $15 – $25.

To be updated soon! Thank you for your patience.

To be updated soon! Thank you for your patience.

To be updated soon! Thank you for your patience.

Once a year all councils must submit to the DDC SEP Coordinator a record of all Knights who are Diocesan SEP Trained and Diocesan SEP Cleared (background checked). This list can be requested from the Parish’s SEP Coordinator and should include at minimum the following data:

1. Knight’s Name:
2. Member Number:
3. Council Number:
4. Diocesan SEP Training Completion Date:
5. Diocesan SEP Cleared (background check) Date:
6. KofC (Praesidium Academy) SEP Training Completion Date:
7. KofC (Praesidium Academy) SEP Background Check Completion Date: (may be the same as above)
8. Member’s Leadership Role for which KofC (Praesidium Academy) SEP Training was required:

The parish SEP Coordinator may send email reminders to all parish volunteers who have an expiring date approaching so they can renew their Diocesan SEP certification.

It is highly recommended that the Council’s SEP Coordinator keep a simple spreadsheet of the above records for each council member (see sample below). It is up to each member Knight to report the dates of SEP completion to the council’s SEP Coordinator by providing a copy of the certificate, either from the Diocese or from Supreme.

YES. Dues paying members choosing not to volunteer on parish property remain members in good standing.

• A member who declines to submit to diocesan/parish safe environment requirements remains a member in good standing, although he may be prohibited from volunteering on parish property.
• Such members remain eligible to volunteer in programs, activities, and events sponsored by the Knights of Columbus that do not take place on parish property.

To be updated soon! Thank you for your patience.

• Each Circle must have at least one SEP compliant counselor for every 10 squires, but a minimum of two compliant counselors are required in every Circle.
• All counselors must be fully compliant with the training and background check requirements of the Knights of Columbus Safe Environment Program at all times.
• A non-compliant counselor is one who has failed to complete the Praesidium training and/or failed to provide his consent to a background check within 45 days of initial notice of such requirements.