As HR professionals and leaders at Catholic organizations, you play a pivotal role in shaping a workplace that reflects and advances the Church’s teachings. At CBA, we understand the unique challenges you face: juggling multiple responsibilities, addressing daily HR fires, and finding time to incorporate your Catholic identity into your HR practices. That’s why we are committed to providing practical, easily implementable solutions to help you strengthen your organization’s mission so that you maximize your religious liberties.
Resources for Strengthening Catholic Identity
Monthly HR Conversation Articles
Our regular HR Conversation articles, available on the CBA website, provide members with actionable solutions for integrating Catholic identity into HR practices. Topics include:
- Unlocking the Power of the Ministerial Exception: Ensuring Your Organization’s Religious Autonomy
- Why Having Distinctively Catholic Job Descriptions Is Essential
- Why You Need More Than Just Secular HR Policies
- Integrating Catholic Identity into the Interview Process
Each article offers clear, practical guidance to help HR leaders embed their Catholic faith into key aspects of their HR operations.
Handbook Reviews
As part of your CBA membership, we offer reviews of HR architecture, including employee handbooks and policies, through a Catholic lens. During the review, we provide sample language and scripture to help strengthen your Catholic identity.
For instance, consider this handbook statement on performance reviews and an example of recommended language we would provide to you:
Standard Secular Handbook Language
“The performance of each employee is to be reviewed at least once per year based upon job-related criteria. Performance reviews help to develop each employee to their potential and performance to the fullest. Your evaluation should define your duties and responsibilities, provide you with clear goals and expectations, and rate your progress objectively. It is a way to enhance your performance and allow you to experience increased job satisfaction.”
VS.
Sample of Enhanced Catholic Identity Language
“As part of our commitment to fostering a workplace rooted in Catholic values, the performance of each employee will be reviewed at least once annually. These reviews are grounded in job-related criteria and serve as an opportunity to support your growth, align your work with our mission, and help you reach your fullest potential.In addition to assessing job-related performance, evaluations will reflect your ability to respect, uphold, and exemplify the teachings, principles, and traditions of the Catholic Church in both word and deed. Employees are expected to maintain conduct that reflects positively on themselves, the Church, and our shared mission.
We uphold the highest standards of competence, loyalty, and service, expecting all employees to respect the dignity of each person and to actively contribute to the mission of the Church. Your role is not merely a job—it is a ministry that advances the goals of our organization and the broader Church.”
If you’re interested in having your handbook or HR policies reviewed, simply email a copy to us at marybeth@catholicbenefitsassociation.org. We’ll provide recommendations that you can choose to incorporate so that you can further identify yourself as authentically Catholic.
Maximizing the Ministerial Exception
One of the most noteworthy resources we offer is guidance on the First Amendment’s ministerial exception, a subset of the Doctrine of Church Autonomy. This constitutional protection ensures that religious organizations have sovereignty over their relationships with individuals advancing their mission.
On our Members Only Room, you’ll find information detailing key criteria, explanations, and sample language to help you understand, apply, and defend the ministerial exception. Over the next few months, we will expand this resource with additional tools and materials.
Tailored Resources in the Members-Only Room (MOR)
To support members who are revising handbooks, updating policies, or ensuring compliance, we also have the following resources based on member feedback. These resources ensure your organization’s Catholic identity is reflected in your HR architecture to reinforce legal protections.
- Employer Equal Opportunity Statement
- Updated language that aligns with Catholic teaching, ready to incorporate into handbooks or EEO documents.
- HR Document Review Checklist
- A comprehensive guide highlighting key HR documents and policies to review or create, ensuring alignment with religious protections and legal standards.
- Summary of Legal Rights of Religious Employers
- Includes guidance on compliance posters that conflict with Catholic teaching, along with a supplementary poster to display alongside required notices.
- Template Documents (Scroll Down)
- We also offer templates for handbooks, job descriptions, applications, job postings and more.
CBA’s Commitment to Your Success
At CBA, we are dedicated to supporting you in seamlessly integrating Catholic identity into your HR practices. Let us partner with you to ensure your workplace reflects your organization’s Catholic values and demonstrates your commitment to providing a truly faith-centered employment experience for your employees.