By Angela E. Pometto
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 9/23/04)

Since the release of the National Audit and the John Jay Study earlier this year, the diocese has been working diligently to create a safe environment for children. Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde has spoken many times on the subject, but one particular speech touched several parishioners at St. Agnes Church in Arlington.

"Parent Orientation for the Third Millennium: Teaching God’s Plan for Love, Marriage and Family" is a response to the bishop’s call to restore the dignity of marriage, family life and human sexuality.

"Parents need to protect children," said Father Christopher Pollard, parochial vicar. "We’re filling in a piece of that endeavor." He explained that the seminar series will focus on the causes of society’s problems while recognizing today’s parents grew up in a very different world from their children.

"For generations before, what was evil was evil," said Father Pollard. "Now, what is evil masquerades as being good."

Instead of criticizing the culture, however, Father Pollard hopes that the seminar discussions will focus more on how to bring to life a Christian culture.

The seminar begins on Sept. 28 with a talk about love by Patrice Connolly, a teacher from Bishop O’Connell. Connolly will focus on the gift of chastity and give practical advice to assist "parents in their primary role of communicating this vision of sexual maturity to their children."

"The chief challenge for modern couples is the pursuit of happiness instead of goodness," said Father Marcus Pollard, pastor of St. Veronica Church in Herndon, who will speak on marriage on Oct. 19.

Art Bennett, director of the Alpha-Omega Clinic and Consultation Services, will speak on family on Nov. 9.

"The culture is not supportive of many ideas of family life," Bennett said. There is a call to evangelize the culture, but the risks are real.

The seminar concludes Nov. 30 with Patrick Fagan, author and a William H.G. Fitzgerald fellow in family and cultural issues at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based public-policy institute. While addressing the national data on teens in areas of sexuality, religion and family backgrounds, he also will focus on what is good in the culture that needs to be preserved: marriage, prayer, worship and chastity. He will discuss "the nature and depth of the crisis in truth and grasp of reality … and how that effects their lives."

"We were surprised by the Holy Spirit," said Father Pollard. "The Holy Spirit planted the same idea in many different places."

The main goal of the seminar is to "help parents realize how being a kid is very different from what it was," said Father Pollard.

According to Father Pollard, there are many different challenges facing children now. The culture is threatening, and it’s everywhere.

"We hope to gain parents who are more willing to communicate about these things," Father Pollard said.

The program will include a 30-page booklet with sources used in the talks. "We don’t want to squander good ideas," said Father Pollard. He hopes this program will be duplicated at other parishes, and that the seminar will become a yearly event at St. Agnes.