Privacy Policy

This policy was last updated on February 6, 2015.

Welcome to the website of the Archdiocese of Washington. This site is operated by the Archdiocese and has been created to provide information about our Archdiocese and to provide access to the information, resources, products and services available through the site to its visitors. This Privacy Policy sets forth Archdiocese’s policy with respect to information that is collected from site visitors.

What information does the Archdiocese collect on its website?

Some data collected on this site is the kind generally referred to as personally identifiable information. This kind of information includes, for example, your full name, home address, email address, date of birth, credit card number, or telephone number.

The Archdiocese does not collect personally identifiable information through this website except when such individuals specifically provide such information on a voluntary basis. For example, such personally identifiable information may be gathered from an e-mail request for information or service from an agency or ministry of the Archdiocese. Wherever on the site we collect personally identifiable data, we make an effort to provide a link to this privacy policy.

By voluntarily providing us with personally identifiable information, you are consenting to our use of it in accordance with this privacy policy. If you provide personally identifiable information to this website, you acknowledge and agree that such information may be transferred from your current location to the offices and servers of Archdiocese and the authorized third parties referred to herein.

Other data we collect through this site is non-personally identifiable information – information that cannot be used to identify you. Examples of this kind of information include your ISP address, what pages on the site you view, your browser type, and so on.

How does the Archdiocese use the information it collects?

The Archdiocese uses the information you provide in a manner that is consistent with this privacy policy. If you provide personally identifiable information for a certain reason, we may use that information for the reason it was provided. The Archdiocese and its affiliates and subsidiaries may also use your personally identifiable information and other information you provide to help us improve the content and functionality of this website, to better understand our users, and to help improve the services and programs that the Archdiocese provides. If you ask to receive communications from us, each communication you receive will contain instructions allowing you to opt out of receiving future communications.

The Archdiocese may store user information itself or such information may be included in databases owned and maintained by Archdiocese affiliates, agents or service providers. This site may use such information and pool it with other information to track, for example, the total number of visitors to our site, the number of visitors to each page of our site, and the domain names of our visitors’ internet service providers.

How does the Archdiocese protect the information it collects? How can I protect my own information?

When users make a contribution or donation through the archdiocesan website, we offer the use of a secure server. We encrypt all information you input before it is transmitted. Furthermore, all of the data we collect is protected against unauthorized access. This means that only authorized archdiocesan staff or bank employees/systems are permitted to read your information. The Archdiocese will not sell or otherwise transfer personally identifiable information about individual users to unaffiliated third parties without the user’s approval.

The Archdiocese takes reasonable steps, consistent with industry standards, to protect personally identifiable information provided through this website from loss, misuse, or unauthorized access or disclosure. However, transmission or storage of information via the internet, especially email, cannot be made fully secure. Please keep this in mind and take care in deciding what information you send us.

In operating this site, we may use a technology called “cookies.” A cookie is a piece of information that the computer that hosts our site gives to your browser when you access the Site. Our cookies help provide additional functionality to the site and help us analyze site usage more accurately. For instance, our site may set a cookie on your browser that allows you to access the site without needing to remember and then enter a password more than once during a visit to the site. On most web browsers, you will find a “help” section on the toolbar. Please refer to this section for information on how to receive notification when you are receiving a new cookie and how to turn cookies off. We recommend that you leave cookies turned on because they allow you to take advantage of some of the site’s features.

Users should be aware that when they voluntarily disclose personally identifiable information (e.g., user name, e-mail address) on bulletin boards or in the chat areas that may be developed and implemented on the Archdiocesan website, that information, along with any substantive information disclosed in the user’s communication, can be collected and correlated and used by third parties and may result in unsolicited messages from other posters or third parties. Such activities are beyond the control of the Archdiocese.

Will the Archdiocese ever disclose my information?

The Archdiocese is not in the business of selling the information it collects through its website. We consider that information to be a vital part of our relationship with our users. There are, however, certain circumstances in which we may share users’ information with certain third parties without further notice to the users.

We may share users’ personally identifiable information with the Archdiocese’s affiliated and/or subsidiary organizations for purposes consistent with this privacy policy and with the mission of the Archdiocese. Like many organizations, we also sometimes hire companies to perform certain business-related functions, such as performing mailings, maintaining databases, and processing payments. When we contract with another company to perform functions of this nature, we only provide them with the information that they need to perform that specific function, and we require them to keep that information confidential.

We may disclose users’ personally identifiable information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to (i) comply with a legal obligation, (ii) protect and/or defend the rights or property of the Archdiocese, (iii) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the website or the public, or (iv) protect against legal liability to the Archdiocese or its affiliates or subsidiary organization. Reports of physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual assault, or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult will be reported to the appropriate civil authorities in accordance with the Archdiocese of Washington’s Child Protection Policy.

What if I have a problem?

If at any time you believe the Archdiocese has violated this privacy policy, or if you need to change or correct any information you have provided through this website, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] so that we may quickly resolve the issue.

Other terms, conditions, and considerations

Your access to and use of this website is subject to the Terms of Use. By accessing, browsing, or using this website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not consent to the Terms of Use, do not use this website.

The Archdiocese reserves the right to update or modify this privacy policy at any time and from time to time without notice to its users. Please review this policy periodically, and especially before you provide any personally identifiable information. Your continued use of the website after any changes to this privacy policy shall indicate your agreement with the terms of the revised privacy policy.