On the one hand, it is so easy for children and parents to come forward with false allegations hoping they can leverage it into a settlement. On the other hand, when someone volunteers to help out with children’s ministry, it seems almost rude to pick through them like they are a pedophile.
I agree that a “two adult mandatory” policy combined with video cameras is essential. Your odds of a non-pedo improves if the staff/volunteers are women but not entirely. Pretty soon churches are going to need liability insurance as badly as doctors.
In my church it’s almost impossible to get anyone to do children’s Sunday school. No men volunteer. I can’t say I blame them in today’s moral climate.
In churches in my Catholic diocese, we need to have several state background checks (consistent with PA state law for volunteers of any sort who have direct contact with children) and several other trainings/clearances.
EVERYONE GETS THEM. Employees? Yes, as a condition for employment. Sunday school teachers? Definitely. Youth ministry? Yep. People who read the Scripture lessons and serve as ushers for Mass? Them too. The ladies who make pierogis as a fundraiser? Even them, and they have become the platonic form of “’Everyone needs to get clearances’ means EVERYONE.”