NORFOLK (VA)
The Virginian-Pilot
By STEVEN G. VEGH, The Virginian-Pilot
March 7, 2005
NORFOLK — On a Saturday morning when she might otherwise be shuttling her children to sports practice, Joanne Wagner was in a Catholic parish hall, one among three dozen church volunteers assembled to watch a videotape of child molesters’ confessions and abuse victims’ anguished stories.
It was ugly, intense – and also mandatory under the Diocese of Richmond’s new and permanent initiative for teaching parish volunteers how to detect and prevent child sexual abuse.
By June, the diocese expects to have channel ed 10,000 parishioners through “Protecting God’s Children,” a three-hour workshop required for adults whose volunteerism involves contact with children.
Individuals who refuse the training will not be allowed to work with children unless a second, trained adult is also present, said Maryjane Fuller, the assistant human resources director for the diocese.
After completing the workshop, volunteers are required to visit an abuse prevention Web site each month for updates and new information.
The diocese, which already required background checks for volunteers and staff, has also cycled clergy and employees through the workshop.
Posted by kshaw at March 7, 2005 07:06 AM