February 19, 2006

Diocese aims to create safe environments for kids

CHARLESTON (SC)
The Post and Courier

BY MICHAEL GARTLAND
The Post and Courier

Four years ago, the Catholic Diocese of Charleston did not have an instructor to travel the state and teach people how to prevent child molestation.

Now, each parish has had a lesson, and Brother Ed Bergeron is one of many who keep teaching them.

"We try to raise people's awareness of what to look for," he said of the ongoing classes. "The focus of the program is creating environments that are safe for kids."

Take opaque windows for example.

Bergeron sat in an office at St. John Catholic Church in North Charleston and smiled as two men came to remove a fogged plate-glass window from the door. He believes that the more adults can see children who are one on one with other adults, the less likely it is that child abuse will occur.

Posted by kshaw at February 19, 2006 11:12 AM