Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 12/11/03)

The Arlington Catholic HERALD spoke recently with the Diocese of Arlington’s Director of Child Protection and Safety, Catherine Nolan, about the diocese’s progress in implementing a safe environment program for children and adults. Responding to the sexual abuse crisis in 2002, the bishops made a moral commitment to provide such programs in every diocese across the country. These commitments are spelled out in their Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Background

There are two components — one for children and young people, and one for adults. Training for adults covers the definition of child abuse, actions and policies that can be used to prevent child abuse, signs that one should look for to identify abuse, and what actions an adult should take when they believe that child abuse may be occurring.

Any safe environment program for children starts by conveying the fact that children are made in God’s image, in fact, are gifts from God. They are therefore special and loved, and we want to protect them. In the same manner in which we teach our children about how to stay safe from fires, busy streets and bullies, we can educate our children to stay safe from those who would seek to abuse them. Programs for children contain age-appropriate and faith-appropriate training to help them learn about personal safety, including improper and abusive behavior and relationships.

No. Safe environment programs do not provide instruction in human sexuality. That type of instruction belongs primarily to the parents. Safe environment programs provide information on how to recognize the threat of sexual abuse, how to protect oneself from such abuse and how to report the threat or actual abuse to a trusted adult.

By our policy, priests, deacons, religious, teachers, coaches, and any diocesan personnel and volunteers who have contact with children are required to attend. Any other interested adults are also welcome to attend. Parents have the right to choose whether or not their children will participate in the program.

In 2002, the U.S. Bishops committed themselves to taking decisive steps to ensure that children are safe. The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (available in English and Spanish at www.usccb.org/ocyp/charter.htm) outlines these steps.

Bishop Loverde is personally committed to ensuring the safety of all our children by taking this important step. (See most recently his Nov. 26th HERALD column at www.catholicherald.com).

Yes. Pope John Paul II in April 2002 said, "In addressing the problem of abuse with clarity and determination, the Church will help society to understand and deal with the crisis in its midst." Suitable, age-appropriate safe environment programs are one important step in this process.

National research experts estimate that approximately 320,000 children are sexually abused or assaulted each year in the United States. While there is no reliable breakdown by profession, researchers estimate that 25 percent of these offenses are committed by caretakers (for example, parents, relatives and babysitters), and 75 percent by non-caretakers. In Virginia, 39,507 children were reported as being victims of physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect in 2001. Being informed about this issue and possessing basic tools to identify and prevent it is essential.

Every U.S. diocese is instituting safe environment programs. Several of our own schools took the initiative and began offering such programs to staff, parents and students several years ago. For more information on these programs, visit the bishops’ national Office of Child and Youth Protection at www.usccb.org/ocyp/index.htm.

The vast majority of our priests, Catholic Charities staff and directors of religious education have already completed their training in a series of workshops that our diocesan Child Protection and Safety program has overseen for the past four months. I expect that every diocesan employee and volunteer will be trained by August 2004. As a schedule of future training dates is solidified, I will post it on our website (www.arlingtondiocese.org/protect/home.html).

Yes. Since 1991, the diocese has required employees and volunteers to attend diocesan wide sexual misconduct/child abuse and neglect seminars. In light of the Charter requirements to offer accessible, relevant and updated training on safe environments, I am working with each pastor to establish a parish-based safe environment program that will replace these former seminars. I have been working with the directors of diocesan ministries to offer training for them; clergy, directors of religious education and Catholic Charities staff have already been trained. The content includes information about the Charter, our recently revised policy on the Protection of Children/Young People and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and/or Child Abuse, signs and symptoms of abuse, how to prevent abuse, and what to do if abuse is suspected. Participation in a safe environment program continues to be required of employees and volunteers. However, all interested adults are welcome. We want to convey through these workshops that we are committed as parish communities to be educated on this topic and to keep our children safe.

While a final decision on a specific program has not yet been made, our response to the Charter requirement for educating children is well under way. Earlier this year, the diocese reviewed several personal safety programs. "Good Touch, Bad Touch," a well-established and evaluated program used widely in schools and communities throughout the country, was initially selected as a possible option for use in the Catholic schools of our diocese. Taking advantage of a training opportunity this past August, our diocesan Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy McNiff oversaw the training and certification of over 60 diocesan school staff in the program for possible future use.

Since I was appointed to this position in August, I have held numerous informational and listening sessions about this Charter with chancery staff, priests, school principals, parents and directors of religious education. Parents were invited to a recent informational meeting, and a follow-up session will be held in January. What is clear is that whatever program our diocese ultimately settles on, it will involve the parents of our diocese, be evaluated as effective, age-appropriate and faithful to Catholic teaching, and will not place the burden of protection on children.

Some dioceses are using the "Virtus" program for their adult safe environment programs. However, "Virtus" does not currently offer a safe environment program for children.

First of all, parents are the front-line educators in this subject. As such, they will be able to experience the program themselves prior to the day when their child learns about this issue. Trained and certified diocesan school staff and my staff will teach the program.

No. Parents who do not wish their children to participate for whatever reason have that prerogative.

I hope that a program fully reflective of Catholic teaching and principles will be up and running by the end of the current school year, or at the beginning of the 2004-05 school year at the latest.

Yes. Some parents were able to attend an informational meeting on Nov. 30th hosted by our Child Protection and Safety program. There will be a second informational meeting hosted by my assistant, Jennifer Alvaro, L.C.S.W., and myself. Father Paul deLadurantaye, diocesan director of catechetics; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy McNiff; and Father Robert Cilinski, pastor of All Saints, will be on hand as resources. The meeting will be held on Jan. 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. at All Saints Church in Manassas.

In keeping with our commitment to Catholic education, our program will be reflective of Catholic teaching on the human person and morality. For example, the Catholic understanding of the human person as a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (I Cor. 3:16) will be clearly taught.

While the program the diocese is currently reviewing refers to "sexual abuse," any program that the diocese chooses will not include the use of explicit sexual terms. Bishop Loverde, the superintendent of schools, I, and others are ensuring that all the materials are evaluated as effective, age-appropriate and faithful to Catholic teaching.

Absolutely. We encourage and support parents in their role as the primary teachers of the faith, as leaders of their "domestic church," and as those primarily entrusted with teaching their children about personal safety and protection. Yet for the Church to neglect this issue pertaining to the safety and well-being of children is, as Bishop Loverde has said, "not an option."

Yes. An essential part of a child’s safety net is knowing that their parents/caretakers can talk with them about this topic. Before children can attend a training session, a letter, permission slip and materials will first be sent to parents for their consideration. Secondly, parents will attend their own educational session before the curriculum is taught to their child. The Catholic schools will notify parents as the schedule is developed.

Listen carefully. Be supportive and assure the child that the abuse was not their fault and that you will do what you can to help them be safe. This is not a situation you can or should handle by yourself. Without further questioning the child, you as the adult should report it directly to Child Protection Services. Their 24-hour Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is 1-800-552-7096.

Parents are invited to an information session on Monday, Jan., 12, from 7-9 p.m. at All Saints Church in Manassas. In addition, you are welcome to contact me or my assistant, Jennifer Alvaro, L.C.S.W., at the diocese’s Child Protection and Safety program (703/841-2500). Visit our website at www.arlingtondiocese.org/protect/home.html.