WASHINGTON, D.C.  In the wake of recent church abuse scandals more churches are requiring background checks, not only for staff, but for volunteers as well, according to the Washington Post.
Rev. David C. Parachini, an Episcopal priest and founder of the Nathan Network, an organization to prevent child abuse, said criminal background checks are becoming more common in churches. Procedures vary from public records searches to police and FBI checks and fingerprinting.
The Rev. Richard McFail, stated clerk of the National Capital Presbytery, said the regional office of the 2.5 million-member Presbyterian Church (USA) requires criminal background checks for clergy but allows each congregation to decide to screen its staff and volunteers. Only about one quarter do, but more are considering it, McFail said, in light of recent allegations.
A growing number of lawsuits nationwide have caught the attention of churches, as have increases in insurance premiums or companies unwilling to provide liability insurance unless staff and volunteers are screened and trained to detect and prevent child abuse.
"People are scared and they ought to be scared," Parachini said. "This is a growth industry as far as trial lawyers are concerned."
