NY1
December 4, 2007
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=76227
The Archdiocese of New York began distributing a coloring book Tuesday meant to teach children to be wary of adults, and it doesn't exactly exclude priests from that group. NY1's Amanda Farinacci filed the following report.
Instead of simply teaching kids how to color within the lines, a new coloring book called "Being Friends, Being Safe, Being Catholic" is meant to teach them to be wary of adults who may be out-of-line, strangers or people they know, who may be targeting them for sexual abuse.
"Make sure that everybody knows what the nature of the problem is, and how to protect kids, and how to create a safe environment," said Ed Mechmann of Safe Education.
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| New York Archdiocese Employs New Method to Warn Kids of Sexual Predators |
Its distribution comes as the Catholic Church tries to repair the damage, to its image and financially, from the nationwide scandal involving thousands of priests accused of sexually abusing children „Ÿ dozens in the Archdiocese alone. The activity book does not specifically warn against priests, but one page shows an altar boy with someone who appears to be a priest looking at him.
Church officials say they were wary of targeting priests directly.
"We didn't think it would be fair to stigmatize priests," said Mechmann. "Most of our priests, the vast majority of priests, are good and holy men and they love to work with children and we want them to work with children, with the right guidelines."
A comic book aimed at educating older kids about sexual predators also avoids pointing a finger directly at members of the clergy. Advocates for those who have been abused by priests say the church should have been clearer about telling kids that priests could be perpetrators, and by being so careful, church officials missed the point.
"I think it's very lame, sad, sick," said Joe Burns of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.
The coloring book has been given to 300 schools and 400 religious groups in the city. Parishioners NY1 spoke with say the books are a good first step, but should lead to even more awareness for children to protect themselves from adults.
"I think that we should pay more attention to young children when they ask our advice and not just say 'oh he's a kid, he just doesn't want to do such and such,'" said a New Yorker. "The idea of a coloring book is good, but I think we should do a little bit more."
"I believe that it's a way of letting the parents and the kids know that they're trying to do something," said another.
The misconduct by priests has cost the American Catholic Church hundreds of millions of dollars in payments to victims.
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