Lack of Social Security number an obstacle to some background checks

Published: 2004-04-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As dioceses across the United States began doing background checks on people who work with minors, some ran into a snag. Many of their volunteers do not have Social Security numbers because they are undocumented immigrants. A Social Security number is a staple for many types of background checks to see if people have a record of child sex abuse. This problem is especially acute within the church's growing Hispanic community. "We have many, many Hispanic volunteers who don't have Social Security numbers," said Elisa Montalvo, president of the National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministries. "We are also concerned about child safety," she said. The U.S. bishops 2002 "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" requires background checks on all clergy and for lay employees and volunteers who have direct contact with minors. The aim is to weed out child sex offenders.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .