Throughout April, our country observes National Child Abuse Prevention Month. During this time, we should pause and reflect on the gift of our children and the great responsibility in protecting them.
The Catholic Church teaches us that “the dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1700) regardless of age, race, nationality or sex. It is fundamental that our dignity demands the respect of one’s whole person. In his profound and historic apostolic exhortation, “Familiaris Consortio,” St. John Paul II said, “special attention must be devoted to the children by developing a profound esteem for their personal dignity, and a great respect and generous concern for their rights” (26).
It goes without saying that all violations of human dignity are wholly incompatible with natural law and basic Christian values and ethics. We must be committed to reforming and eradicating them from our culture and within our Church, particularly violations against a child’s dignity through sexual abuse, which take on a particular and unique gravity and horror.
The protection of the most vulnerable is good and necessary because any physical, emotional and sexual abuse is gravely disordered and intrinsically evil. Such protection is essential to the healthy spiritual development of every child and for the People of God as a whole to flourish. The mandate to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19) is the mission of the Church, and thus the mission of each member of the Church working out their salvation. This mission requires that those to whom the Gospel is preached must be afforded the opportunity to encounter the Lord in “Word and Sacrament” in a safe setting. This encounter often takes place when an environment has been created that permits individuals to open their hearts and minds to meet the Living God without any internal or external threats.
We cannot escape the reality that the pain of sexual abuse of minors affects the whole of society. The damage to the human person is astounding. The USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People reminds us that “The damage caused by sexual abuse of minors is devastating and long-lasting” (4). I have spoken to many victims over the years, and I have heard and seen their pain, frustration and anger as these brave survivors navigate the healing process. To assist in this healing process, 94 Masses for Healing and prayer services have been offered since 2004 for those receiving ministry from the diocesan Office of Victim Assistance; more than 250 have attended Retreats for Victim Survivors; and there have been numerous other opportunities for prayer, education, counseling and support.
It is my prayer that our efforts will assist each survivor to thrive and achieve the healing, wholeness and holiness that Jesus desires for all. It is also important that our seminarians and priests receive training on working with those who have been so deeply wounded, and we continue that education to this day.
The diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Young People assists me in ensuring that all clergy, employees and volunteers with substantial contact with children understand the responsibility we have to protect children. Since 2004, the Diocese of Arlington has provided adult safe environment training for more than 69,000 adults and completed background checks for more than 67,000 clergy, employees and volunteers. Per our policy, the Diocese has automatically reported all allegations of child abuse to local law enforcement since 2002.
These processes are not just a result of the 2002 Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. They are also concrete ways that we live out the Church’s social justice teaching.
The Diocese’s background checks, vetting process and training are only some of the ways we keep children safe. I am committed to ensuring the creation and maintenance of proper boundaries to promote safe environments for all. Your participation helps to ensure each and every day that we protect our children to the best of our ability, that we obey Our Lord’s command: “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Mt 19:13).
Sexual abuse is more common in our culture than one might suspect. According to research:
- One out of every five girls and one out of every six boys will be sexually abused before they reach 18 years of age.
- The Virginia Department of Social Services estimates that sexual abuse occurs to approximately 18 percent of all children and youth.
- In Virginia alone, during the 2021 state fiscal year, more than 7,500 child abuse allegations investigated by Child Protective Services were determined to be “founded.”
- This year, the Commonwealth of Virginia already has received more than 575 allegations regarding human trafficking. It is estimated that only 1 percent of human trafficking victims are ever rescued.
- Every 30 seconds worldwide, a child or teen is sold into slavery via labor or sexual human trafficking.
