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As a part of their mission, archdiocesan offices, agencies, parishes
and schools acquire, develop, and maintain computers, computer systems,
voice mail systems and networks. These information resources are
intended for archdiocesan-related purposes, including direct and
indirect support of the archdiocese’s ministries and administrative
functions and of the free exchange of ideas among members of the
archdiocesan offices, agencies, parishes and schools and between
the archdiocesan offices, agencies, parishes and schools and the
wider local, national, and world communities. The archdiocesan offices,
agencies, parishes and schools, thus, are encouraged to make innovative
and creative use of information technologies in support of service
and administration, but the information system is not to be used
for the expression of personal opinion other than in regard to archdiocesan
business. Further, all of the information resources are and
remain at all times the property of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The use of the aforementioned information resources, like the
use of any other archdiocesan-provided resource and like any other
archdiocesan-related activity, is subject to the normal requirements
of legal and ethical behavior within the archdiocesan offices, agencies,
parishes and schools. Based on the teachings and moral principles
of the Roman Catholic Church, it is the policy of the Archdiocese
of New Orleans to provide members of the archdiocesan offices, agencies,
parishes and schools with an environment free from conduct deemed
inappropriate by the Roman Catholic Church. Should any member
of the archdiocesan offices, agencies, parishes and schools, including
employees, students and volunteers, engage in any conduct violative
of Roman Catholic Church teachings or principles in the use of a
computer, e-mail, voice mail or the internet, the Archdiocese of
New Orleans reserves the right to take whatever disciplinary action
it deems appropriate as to any user, notwithstanding whether such
action violates any other laws, regulations or policies. Thus,
legitimate use of a computer, computer system, voice-mail system
or network does not extend to whatever is technically possible.
Although some limitations are built into computer operating systems
and networks, those limitations are not the sole restrictions on
what is permissible. Users must abide by all
applicable restrictions, whether or not they are built into the
operating system or network, and whether or not they can be circumvented
by technical means.
With access to computers and
people from around the world also comes the availability of material
that may be offensive and contrary to the mission of the archdiocese.
The archdiocese does maintain a firewall/filter to protect individuals
against the existence or receipt of material that may be offensive
to them. However, with the global nature of computer networks it
is impossible to control all materials and an industrious user may
discover controversial materials, either accidentally or deliberately.
As such, those who make use of electronic communications are warned
that they may come across or be recipients of material they find
offensive. Those who use e-mail or make information about themselves
available on the Internet should be forewarned that the archdiocese
cannot protect them from invasions of privacy and other possible
dangers that could result from the individual’s distribution
of personal information. Should any user of archdiocesan
information resources become aware of unauthorized access to improper
sites or material or inappropriate use of e-mail, the user should
report this matter to the appropriate supervisor.
Only computer software approved by the appropriate supervisor
should be installed on to individuals’ computers and the Archdiocese
reserves the right to delete any unauthorized programs from any
archdiocesan computer, even though the deletion may cause damage
to any files belonging to the owner/user.
Applicability
This policy applies to all users of archdiocesan information resources
and to all users of those resources, whether on archdiocesan property
or from remote locations. Additional policies may apply to specific
computers, computer systems, voice-mail systems or networks provided
or operated by specific units of the archdiocese. Consult
the operators or managers of the specific computer, computer system,
voice-mail system or network in which you are interested for further
information.
Policy
All users of archdiocesan information resources
must: Comply with all federal, Louisiana and
other applicable law; all archdiocesan rules and policies; and all
applicable contracts and licenses. Examples of such laws,
rules, policies, contracts, and licenses include the laws of libel,
privacy, copyright, trademark, obscenity, and child pornography;
the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Computer Fraud
and Abuse Act, which prohibit "hacking", "cracking",
and similar activities; the archdiocese’s sexual harassment
policy; the archdiocese’s policy regarding the abuse and neglect
of minors and all applicable software licenses. Individuals
involved in “hacking” and/or “cracking” break
into someone else’s computer system and/or bypass passwords
or licenses in computer programs. Users who engage in electronic
communications with persons in other states or on other systems
or networks should be aware that they may also be subject to the
laws of those other states and countries and the rules and policies
of those other systems and networks. Users are responsible for ascertaining,
understanding, and complying with the laws, rules, policies, contracts,
and licenses applicable to their particular uses.
Use only those information resources that
they are authorized to use and use them only in the manner and to
the extent authorized. Ability to access information resources
does not, by itself, imply authorization to do so. Users are responsible
for ascertaining what authorizations are necessary and for obtaining
them before proceeding. E-mail and related archdiocesan accounts
and passwords may not, under any circumstances, be shared with,
or used by, persons other than those to whom they have been assigned
by the archdiocese.
Respect the privacy of other users and their
accounts, regardless of whether those accounts are securely protected.
Again, ability to access other persons’ accounts does
not, by itself, imply authorization to do so. Users are responsible
for ascertaining what authorizations are necessary and for obtaining
them before proceeding. Under no circumstances should a user
of archdiocesan information resources use another user’s account
and/or hide their identity in the forwarding of e-mail messages
and/or during the use of the internet or voice-mail system.
Violation of the privacy issues discussed herein will subject the
user to discipline, up to and including termination.
Respect the finite capacity of those resources
and limit use so as not to consume an unreasonable amount of those
resources or to interfere unreasonably with the activity of other
users. Although there is no set bandwidth, disk space, CPU
time, or other limit applicable to all uses of archdiocesan information
resources, the archdiocese may require users of those resources
to limit or refrain from specific uses in accordance with this principle.
The reasonableness of any particular use will be judged in the context
of all of the relevant circumstances.
Refrain from using those resources for personal
commercial purposes or for personal financial or other gain. Such
use is prohibited. Personal use of archdiocesan information
resources for other purposes is permitted when it does not consume
a significant amount of those resources, does not interfere with
the performance of the user’s job or other archdiocesan responsibilities,
and is otherwise in compliance with this policy. Further limits
may be imposed upon personal use in accordance with normal supervisory
procedures.
Refrain from stating or implying that they
speak on behalf of the archdiocese and from using archdiocesan symbols
and logos without authorization to do so. Affiliation with
the archdiocese does not, by itself, imply authorization to speak
on behalf of the archdiocese. Authorization to speak on the behalf
of the archdiocese may be granted by the Office of the Archbishop.
Authorization to use archdiocesan symbols and logos on archdiocesan
information resources may be granted only by the Office of the Archbishop.
The use of a disclaimer on all communications is recommended, such
as; the contents of this communication are the sole responsibility
of (name of user) and do not necessarily represent the opinions
or policies of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Additionally, any
communication should not be considered confidential. Any comments
should be sent to (user’s e-mail address).
Enforcement
Users who violate this policy may be denied access to archdiocesan
information resources and may be subject to other penalties and
disciplinary action, both within and outside of the archdiocese.
Violations will be handled through the archdiocese’s disciplinary
procedures applicable to the relevant user. However, the archdiocese
may temporarily suspend or block access to an account, prior to
the initiation or completion of such procedures, when it reasonably
appears necessary to do so in order to protect the integrity or
security of archdiocese or other information resources or to protect
the archdiocese from liability. The archdiocese may also refer suspected
violations of applicable law to appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Security and Privacy
The archdiocese employs various measures to protect the security
of its information resources and of their users’ accounts.
Users should be aware, however, that the archdiocese cannot guarantee
such security. Users should therefore engage in "safe computing"
practices by establishing appropriate access restrictions for their
accounts, guarding their passwords, and changing them regularly.
Users should also be aware that their uses
of the archdiocese’s information resources, including voice-mail
resources, are not completely private. Data saved on the archdiocese’s
computers and/or servers, including e-mail equipment and e-mail
and voice-mail messages are the property of the Archdiocese of New
Orleans. Messages that are created, sent or received using
the archdiocese’s e-mail or voice-mail system are the property
of the archdiocese. The archdiocese reserves the right to
access and monitor the activity and accounts of individual users
of archdiocesan information resources, including but not limited
to the contents of individual e-mail accounts, voice-mail accounts,
login sessions and communications. Further, users should be
aware that their computer information, voice-mail information and
e-mail information – whether deleted or not – may be reviewed
by the Archdiocese of New Orleans and that the users have no expectation
of privacy in such information.
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