Background Check Not Required for Church Janitor

By Bob Grip
Fox 10
January 5, 2016

http://www.fox10tv.com/story/30855869/background-check-not-required-for-church-janitor

Reginald Michael Reed, the suspect in the kidnapping of a 17-year-old boy who had been shot and stabbed and left in a car in the parking lot of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, was not required to undergo background checks before being hired to perform janitorial work at that church.

“Mr. Reed is an independent contractor,” explained Msgr. Michael Farmer, Vicar General of the Mobile Archdiocese.

Reed was not a short-term, temporary employee. In an e-mail sent to parents of children at Corpus Christi School, principal Joan McMullen wrote about Reed, "He has worked as the church's maintenance person for many years. Recently, he has been helping with maintenance at the school."

Reed, who is 55 years old, was arrested on December 28, 2015. Metro Jail records show Reed has an arrest record in Mobile County dating back to 1995 for crimes that include cocaine possession, marijuana possession, possession of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license and improper tag.

In a statement sent to FOX10 News anchor Bob Grip, Msgr. Farmer wrote, “In accordance with archdiocesan policy, background checks and safe environment training are required of all employees and of volunteers who have substantial contact with minors.”

“Independent contractors are not employees or volunteers. They are not subject to background checks and safe environment training both because it would be unworkable to do so for employees of other companies and because students are always under the supervision of teachers and staff members who have received the required archdiocesan training for the care and protection of minors and who are re-certified annually,” Msgr. Farmer said.

Pat Guyton of the Child Advocacy Center reacted to the Church's statement by saying, "Whether an employee, a volunteer or a contract employee, anyone who has access to children in an institutional setting like a church or school should be carefully screened to keep children safe....Institutions run a high risk of liability if they don't do background checks on volunteers, employees and contract employees should they molest a child under their care at the school or church."

Guyton added, "Finally it's just good common sense".