Registration

Code of Conduct for members

Please read this code of conduct in full before submitting your request for membership.

It is a condition of membership that you accept all aspects of the Code of Conduct.

The Brentwood Catholic Youth Service (BCYS) message board and community discussion area (comm.) exists to allow young Catholics to meet each other online, chat, share ideas and opinions, and keep in touch. It has been running since 2001, and the Code of Conduct is in place to help everyone to continue to enjoy being part of the discussions.

Code of Conduct

Love God, and treat others as you would want them to treat you!

1. This is a closed community. Only members should post on the message board, community discussions (comm.), or prayer board. If you think a message has been posted by a non-member, please report it to us.
2. Members are all known to the BCYS, or have been vouched for by a school teacher, priest or BCYS leader.
3. We ask all members to help us to maintain the good nature and Christian spirit of our message board and discussions. Please use the report button to let us know if any message contains words, images, or links to other sites which:
   - breaks the law (see "legal framework" below)
   - are detrimental or offensive
   (Given the age range of our users, we would expect general conformity with the guidelines for films with a 12 Certificate rating. Full details of these are at www.bbfc.co.uk)
4. Any member posting a message which breaks the law will have their membership suspended for a period determined by the managers, or terminated, as will any member persistently posting detrimental or offensive messages.
5. Messages which advertise personal events such as birthday parties, etc., should include the clear notice that these are not BCYS events. Messages which advertise meeting up for alcoholic drinks should also make clear that this is for those aged 18+ only. If these points are not observed the message should be reported.
6. Messages reflect the personal views of those posting. Subject to the points above (3&4) members are free to express their opinions. We recognise that these views may not reflect those of the Catholic Church, represented locally by the Diocese of Brentwood.
7. Messages which are reported will be sent to the Managers of the website. It is at their discretion whether the message is deleted or remains.
8. A list of managers can be obtained from the BCYS office; email youth@dioceseofbrentwood.org.
9. If you have a complaint about the way in which a manager has dealt with the reporting of a message, or any other aspect of the message board, comm., or prayer board, you should write to the Chaplain and Director of the BCYS, Fr Dominic Howarth, at Cathedral House, Ingrave Rd., Brentwood, Essex CM15 8AT

Legal Framework for our Code of Conduct

The attention of those who publish information in electronic format - this includes everyone posting on the comm., message board and prayer board - is drawn to UK legislation that relates to computer use. This includes:-

Computer Misuse Act (1990)

It is likely that any material which incites, encourages or enables others to gain unauthorised access to a computer system would be found illegal under the Act.

Copyright, Designs and Patents Acts (1988)

In general, these Acts require that the permission of the owner of the intellectual property MUST be sought before any use of it is made whatsoever.

Data Protection Act (1998)

This provides protection of data which is stored in a computer or other electronic information system, that identifies any living person. The written permission of each Data Subject must be sought and obtained before any information, including photographs, relating to them is stored in the system.

Equal Opportunities Act

Any material which discriminates against any person on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, political or religious beliefs or encourages such discrimination, contravenes the Act.

Interception of Communications Act 1985 / Regulation of Investigatory and Powers Act 2000

These Acts define rules for interception of traffic on postal and telecommunications networks.

Libel

Facts concerning individuals or organisations must be accurate and verifiable and views or opinions must not portray their subjects in any way which could damage their reputation.

Pornography

The display of pornographic or sexually explicit material, or publicising access to such material, is not allowed, irrespective of the legality of material in the country of origin.

Race Relations Act

Any material that either discriminates or encourages discrimination on racial or ethnic grounds, contravenes the Act.

Telecommunications Act 1984

Section 43 of this Act concerns "improper use of public telecommunications systems". It makes it an offence to send untrue messages intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; also messages that are obscene or grossly offensive.