Chapter 10-1 - Acceptable Use and Responsibility Policy for Electronic Communications (Archdiocesan AUP)

​​​​Acceptable Use and Responsibility Policy for Electronic Communications (Archdiocesan AUP)

The complete Archdiocesan AUP text is comprised of this section page and all topic pages under this section.

Definitions and Coverage

The Acceptable Use and Responsibility Policy for Electronic Communications ("Archdiocesan AUP") applies to all archdiocesan users of technology, whether adults, children, or youth, and whether they are students, parents, paid staff or volunteers, clergy, or members of religious orders in the archdiocese or at any Location. All users are expected to adhere to the morals and values of the Catholic Church, to respect others, to consider the potential audience and their expectations, and to follow the Archdiocesan AUP and the other policies, standards, and procedures of the archdiocese. Electronic information and communications require particular safeguards and impose unique responsibilities on all users.

​The Archdiocesan AUP covers:​

• Using devices appropriately from a social and moral perspective

• Maintaining data confidentiality

• Protecting proprietary, confidential, and privileged data, and personally identifiable information

• Maintaining the integrity of security controls and passwords

• Immediately reporting any suspicious conduct or actual violations

• Other activities implicated in the use of electronic devices

The archdiocese prohibits the improper use or alteration of data and/or information technology. ​​Systems of information security are required to protect proprietary data. All users must adhere to the Archdiocesan AUP.​

All materials and information created and used, in any medium, in the course of activities for or on behalf of the archdiocese or Location are assets of the archdiocese and/or the Location, as appropriate. This policy also applies to the seminary.

Definitions​

​Electronic communication systems include but are not limited to email, telecommunications systems (including telephone, voicemail, video conferencing, virtual messaging and meetings, social media and video), stand-alone or networked computers, intranets, the Internet, and any other communication or data storage or transmission systems (including "the cloud" or cloud-based services) that may be created in the future.

Electronic communication devices include but are not limited to wired and wireless telephones, smartphones or smartwatches, computers, laptops, tablets, photographic, audio and video equipment, hard drives, flash drives, memory sticks, media players, facsimile machines, scanners, copiers, printers, two-way radios, and other communications equipment that may be created in the future.

Electronic communication materials include but ar​e not limited to emails, text messages, instant messages, postings on social media, audio and visual recordings, photographs, films, microfiche, audio and visual broadcasts, computer operating systems, software programs, electronically stored data and text files, computer and web applications, and all other electronic content that is created, downloaded, uploaded, retrieved, opened, shared, saved, forwarded, printed, or otherwise accessed or stored.

Person in charge refers to the department head, manager or supervisor of an archdiocesan department, entity or corporation; the pastor, administrator, parish life director, pastoral associate, deacon or other person designated as in charge of a parish; parish director of religious education, as designated by the pastor or administrator​​; the superintendents of elementary schools or high schools, or a principal, president, or head of school, as applicable.

Personally identifying information includes but is not limited to names or screen names; photographs; telephone numbers; work, home, or school addresses; email addresses; or web addresses/URLs of social networking sites or blogs.

Location refers to any parish, school (whether parish or archdiocesan), the Archdiocesan Catholic Center, any Catholic cemetery and mortuary, and any other operating unit in the archdiocese.

Electronic Communication Systems, Devices, and Materials and the Users Covered

​Electronic communication systems, devices, and materials and the users covered include:

• All electronic communication systems, devices, and materials used at any Location

• All electronic communication devices and materials taken from a Location for use away from the Location

• All electronic communication devices and materials provided to users by Locations, including devices issued in the IGNITE, Clergy Connect, Sisters Connect, PCL Connect, and similar programs

• All personal devices and materials brought from home and used at a Location

• All personal devices and materials, regardless of where they are situated, that are used in such a manner that the archdiocese and/or a Location may be implicated in their use

• All users of electronic communication systems, devices, and materials, including but not limited to volunteers, clergy and religious, students, parents, employees, staff, or contractors, when those contractors are associated ​with any activity of the archdiocese and/or the Location

Ownership and Control

All electronic communication systems, devices, and materials, provided to users by the archdiocese or the Location, are to be used primarily to conduct official Location and/or archdiocese business, not personal business, whether during or outside regular business hours.

With permission from the person in charge of the Location, individuals may use archdiocesan systems, devices, and materials to access and use the Internet for personal business and web exploration outside regular business hours or during breaks. The Archdiocesan AUP applies to all uses.

The archdiocese and Locations, as applicable, reserve the right to monitor, access, retrieve, read, edit, redact, remove, and/or disclose all content created, sent, received, or stored on archdiocese and/or Location systems, devices, and materials (including connections made and sites visited). The archdiocese also cooperates with law enforcement officials or others, without prior notice. Users can have no reasonable expectation of privacy in use of archdiocesan systems, devices, or materials. The archdiocese reserves these rights with respect to systems, devices, and materials not owned by the archdiocese when they are used under circumstances that implicate the a​rchdiocese.​​

Excerpt from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Administrative Handbook. Updated: 4-6-21. Please see Chapter 10-3 -  Acceptable Use and Responsibility Policy for Electronic Communications (Archdiocesan AUP)