VIRTUS & SAFE ENVIRONMENT COMPLIANCE

Interior view of a church altar with columns, stained glass windows, and religious artwork on the walls and ceiling.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People requires that each employee and volunteer within every parish be trained and screened if they have contact with or minister to children. The program in the Archdiocese of Chicago is called VIRTUS or Protecting God’s Children for Adults. It is archdiocesan policy that every volunteer is fully compliant before beginning any volunteer service.

If you have any questions throughout this process, please email virtus@saintmarys.org or contact the parish office.

    1. Download the CANTS 689 form. Fill it out and return it to the parish office or email it to virtus@saintmarys.org. (Do not email it to the address listed on the form) This is the only physical form that needs to be signed and returned. Everything else will be completed online.

    2. Read the instructions for setting up your Virtus account and setup your account. Click here for the instructions.

    3. Login to your new Virtus account at www.virtusonline.org and fulfill the requirements that will be prompted in your account:

      1. Sign the online Archdiocesan Standards of Behavior

      2. Sign the online CANTS 22 form

      3. Submit a criminal background check

      4. Complete Protecting God’s Children training (45 minutes)

      5. Complete Mandated Reporter training (45 minutes)

    1. Download the CANTS 689 form. Fill it out and return it to the parish office or email it to virtus@saintmarys.org. (Do not email it to the address listed on the form) This is the only physical form that needs to be signed and returned. Everything else will be completed online.  This form expires on July 1 of every year. A new form must be on file after July 1. Even if you just signed this form in June, you still need to sign a new one for this fiscal year.

    2. Login to www.virtusonline.org and sign the Archdiocesan Standards of Behavior. This too must be signed every year after July 1.

    3. Complete any requirements that are prompted in your account.  This may include: criminal background check, CANTS 22, Mandated Reporter Training, Recertification, etc.

    4. Take a look at your Virtus home page. Your Virtus home page should look like the picture below with everything being shaded in green. If anything is shaded red, you need to complete that task.