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	Bishops Say Diocese Meets Safety Standards By David Abel Boston Globe April 11, 2007 http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/04/11/bishops_say_diocese_meets_safety_standards/ The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has complied with national child protection safety standards, according to a report released yesterday. The report, commissioned by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, found the archdiocese met all 13 conference standards, such as effective responses to allegations of sexual abuse; promoting healing and reconciliation with survivors of clergy sexual abuse; running criminal checks on priests, deacons, and other personnel; and training children to recognize inappropriate touching. "While much has been achieved, I recognize that work must continue to be done in order to maintain safe environments in both our churches and schools," Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley said in a statement. "Protecting our children and preventing sexual abuse remains paramount." The US Conference of Catholic Bishops hired the independent Gavin Group to review 30 parishes in the Boston area, to restore public confidence shaken by hundreds of claims of sexual abuse by priests. The Archdiocese of Boston, epicenter of the clergy sexual abuse scandal, was one of 11 US dioceses to participate in a full review of its policies and practices. Ann Hagan Webb, a Wellesley psychologist and Massachusetts coordinator for the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, called the report insufficient. "The archdiocese is trying to teach children how to protect themselves, which is important but ineffective," Webb said. "They need to police their own employees. They need to train their employees to protect children; not focus on teaching children to protect themselves. I really think the focus is wrong."
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