Archdiocesan Internet Usage Policy

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 & 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.