BANGOR (ME)
Bangor Daily News
Saturday, March 12, 2005 - Bangor Daily News
BANGOR - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland unveiled Friday a new program designed to keep children safe from sexual predators and abusers. More than 75 religious educators, priests and lay leaders gathered at the St. John's campus of All Souls Catholic School to learn about the Child Lures Prevention program.
Created 20 years ago by a Vermont man, the curriculum is designed for children in kindergarten through grade 12 to increase sexual abuse awareness and prevention, said Bishop Richard J. Malone, who attended the session.
The program, to be implemented in Catholic schools and parish religious education programs throughout the state during the next school year, is expected to reach nearly 20,000 Catholic youth.
"I think people see it not only as a necessary program for abuse prevention in our schools and parishes," Malone said Friday, "but I think they see it as a sign of us moving forward. Maybe, somehow, spiritually it's almost an element of repentance ... for what has happened in the life of the church."