Patch's Poll: Has the Catholic Church Done Enough to Protect Children in Its Parishes?

By Julian McKinley
Patch
July 6, 2012

http://manchester.patch.com/articles/patchs-poll-has-the-catholic-church-done-enough-to-protect-children-in-its-parishes-85db7918

[with poll]

The Catholic Church in eastern Connecticut was rocked this week after one of its parish priests, the Rev. Dennis Carey of St. Paul in Chains parish in Waterford, was arrested on a felony charge of possession of child pornography.

Carey has since posted a $150,000 bond and remains at liberty while his case is pending.

There is no evidence, however, that Carey had any inappropriate contact with any children of the parish, which is an assertion made by his attorney and supported by the police and state's attorney's office. He reportedly said he was addicted to child porn over the past two years and that, since his arrest, he will seek help.

Meanwhile, Waterford Patch published a story today in which a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Norwich asserts that Roman Catholic Church is still a “model” institution for protecting children.

Since 2001, when sex scandals plagued the church in the U.S. and worldwide, the institution enacted a strict screening process, during which both priests and lay workers are subjected to background checks.

“There is no institution in America that has done more to protect young people than the Catholic church,” said Michael Strammiello, archdiocese spokesman. “No institution has done more, invested more.”

As a result, incidents have gone substantially down, Strammiello said. But, with an institution facing so much backlash from a decade of sex abuse scandals, questions still persist on whether the Church is really a modern example of safety.

Do you agree with Strammiello that the Catholic Church done enough to protect the children in its parishes? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.