Church Leaders Head Back to School on Internet Safety, by Kathrynne Skonicki, Catholic Explorer, September 18, 2007

Church Leaders Head Back to School on Internet Safety

By Kathrynne Skonicki
Catholic Explorer
September 18, 2007

http://www.catholicexplorer.com/explore4325/atd/church-leaders-head-back-to-school-on-internet-saf.shtml

Romeoville—Close to 100 catechetical leaders, principals and other ministers convened in a classroom of sorts as students were arriving Sept. 11 at their respective schools in the Diocese of Joliet. The lesson was about Internet safety and Robert Farley, a consultant in crimes against children, was the teacher at Lewis University in Romeoville.

Members of the Joliet diocesan Safe Environment Committee coordinated the event that resulted in three presentations by Farley, a retired commanding officer of the Cook County Sheriff's Department Child Exploitation Unit. Those in attendance at the morning session moved to St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center in Romeoville for catechetical breakout sessions and other meetings in the afternoon. Farley told the Catholic Explorer, "What I want to do is bring everybody up in knowledge of what kids are doing and how to protect them from online sexual predators."

Robert Farley shares insights on the sinister nature of predators on the Internet Sept. 11 at Lewis University in Romeoville.

More than 60 priests attended an afternoon presentation and over 240 deacons and diaconate candidates attended an evening discussion that covered boundaries for clergy and protecting kids online. Moments before his first presentation, Farley said he intended to share with clergymen how to be aware of child sexual abuse, identify child sexual abuse, report it and protect against false allegations. He said, "I am going to talk about putting yourself in a position where nobody can finger point at you or say you did anything wrong because we're all going to be on the same page."

Awareness among vowed and lay ministers in the church is essential in protecting children, added Franciscan Sister Judith Davies, the chancellor of the Joliet Diocese and the chairperson of the diocesan Safe Environment Committee. She said, "They are the leaders in our church and they have to be aware so that they can take steps in their parishes and schools to protect children."

Bishop J. Peter Sartain started off the day of Internet information sharing with a prayer of remembrance for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as well as Auxiliary Bishop James E. Fitzgerald, who died on the date in 2003.

The leader of the diocese expressed his own desire to learn more about Internet dangers. He also praised all of those who have expressed a desire to protect young people by attending the event. He said, "What we're doing today is really for our children, our young people."

During the presentation to educators, Farley defined child sex crimes, described predators and cautioned about children's naivety. The former Catholic high school teacher pointed out, "They don't feel vulnerable." A false sense of security lures adults and children into thinking that the Internet is safe because the children are in a secure place while accessing it at home, school or a friend's house.

Farley also defined computer terms for those unaware of the technology and how it is being manipulated by predators. He informed educators of certain "buzz words for pedophiles" as well as showed certain techniques used to gather the child abuse images. The 30-year veteran of law enforcement said, "That computer is as dangerous as the 9-milimeter (firearm) I carried when I was on the police department."

After the presentation, several shocked and astonished school administrators told the Explorer that they plan on being more proactive in their communities. John Prevost, principal of St. Mary Parish in Park Forest, commented, "It's kind of frightening to be aware of what's out there."

He acknowledged that he was presented with a lot of new information that showed a different perspective on the Internet. In a school environment, the focus has been on the positive resources the Internet provides students, but there should also be some caution utilized as well. He said, "We have to be ever more alert to what they're doing. We're going to be a lot more vigilant in the computer lab. And I think we're going to have to educate parents about what's going on in technology."

Rick Preston, principal of St. Patrick School in Momence, added his own revelations about the online child exploitation revealed in the presentation. He said, "It is very eye opening and informative. You know all about it but it's still a big awakening when you hear in-depth explanations and ramifications."

Preston said he feels even more compelled to spread the awareness after hearing the presentation. He pledged to make efforts to protect the 85 students in his school from online dangers "because they are my children.