I just attended a sexual abuse recognition and prevention program at my home parish. Here is a link: https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/virtus_description.cfm

The program was excellent. It was first developed for education and risk management for churches, but is especially needed today.

Our diocese has some long standing but reemphasized policies of background checks for volunteers and of course, education.

As the regulars know, I've been involved in law enforcement for 26 years. I started when I was 19 (too young!).

I was very impressed by the program.

God bless,

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), August 29, 2003

Answers

-- (top@top.top), August 30, 2003.

Hi John, Yes, I took the course too through my diocese since I am working with children. It is a very good step in the right direction. One thing I think they could improve is how to recognize when a child is being abused by others NOT IN THE CHURCH, such as siblings, PARENTS, etc. The program was very centered on recognizing abuses in our midst AT CHURCH FUNCTIONS, but not so much on other types of abuse.

God Bless,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), August 30, 2003.