Code of Pastoral Conduct

III. PASTORAL STANDARDS

1. Conduct for Pastoral Leaders, Counselors and Spiritual Directors including Priests and Deacons acting in this capacity. This is not intended to violate the seal of confession (see 2.5).

Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors must respect the rights and advance the welfare of each person.

1.1 Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors must not step beyond their competence in counseling situations and shall refer clients to other professionals when appropriate.

1.2 Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors should carefully consider the possible consequences before entering into a counseling relationship with someone with whom they have a pre-existing relationship (i.e., employee, professional colleague, friend, or other pre-existing relationship). Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors must never provide counseling to persons with whom they have engaged in past sexual intimacies. [See Section 7.2.2]

1.3 Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors should not audiotape or videotape sessions, unless written permission has been granted by person(s) being counseled.

1.4 Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors must never engage in sexual intimacies with the persons they counsel. This includes consensual and nonconsensual contact, forced physical contact, and inappropriate sexual comments.

1.5 Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors shall not engage in sexual intimacies with individuals who are close to the client—such as relatives or friends of the client. Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors should presume that the potential for exploitation or harm exists in such intimate relationships. The welfare of the client excludes the possibility of such relationships.

1.6 Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors assume the full burden of responsibility for establishing and maintaining clear, appropriate boundaries in all counseling and counseling-related relationships.

1.7 Physical contact of any kind (i.e., touching) between Pastoral Counselors or Spiritual Directors and the persons they counsel can be misconstrued and should be avoided. Physical conduct within the realm of accepted common courtesy (e.g. handshake) is allowed.

1.8 Sessions should be conducted in appropriate settings at appropriate times.

1.8.1 No sessions should be conducted in private living quarters.

1.8.2 Sessions should not be held at places or times that would tend to cause confusion about the nature of the relationship for the person being counseled.

1.9 Pastoral Counselors and Spiritual Directors shall maintain a log of the times and places of sessions with each person being counseled.