Diocese's Child Safety Programs Approved

By Laurel L. Scott
The Standard-Times
October 31, 2012

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/oct/31/catholic-dioceses-safety-programs-for-children/

Since 2002, the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo has conducted background checks and training for more than 9,000 people who work with children and youths throughout the 29-county diocese in support of its Safe Environment Programs to prevent child sex abuse.

In the past year, more than 13,500 parents and other interested people have attended seminars presented by the diocese on preventing child sex abuse, and the diocese has spent $16,000 on training and materials in support of the Safe Environment Programs.

These are some of the reasons the San Angelo-based diocese for the ninth year in a row has been found in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

"I am pleased with the results of this audit and grateful for the hard work of so many people throughout our diocese — pastors, deacons, religious and lay leaders — to provide a safe and sacred environment for all of our children and youth in the many programs through which we minister to them," Bishop Michael Pfeifer, of the Diocese of San Angelo, said in a news release. "Once again, this audit has given us a great opportunity to step back and see what we have accomplished and explore areas where we can make adjustments or improvements."

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops in November 2002, sets forth requirements for the nation's dioceses to establish Safe Environment Programs to protect children and youths from sexual and other kinds of abuse.

Independent auditors from Stonebridge Business Partners of Rochester, N.Y., visited San Angelo in June to review the diocese's compliance with the "data collection requirements" for the Safe Environment Programs and advised the diocese in October that it is in compliance.

During the audit, the diocesan Safe Environment Policies, Safe Environment Programs for church personnel, parents and children, as well as procedures for assisting victims of sexual abuse were examined.

The bishop said the diocese is not resting in its efforts to ensure children's protection.

Child sexual abuse scandals involving Catholic priests began to be widely reported in 2002 after investigations by The Dallas Morning News and The Boston Globe. Cases have since emerged in Canada, Ireland and elsewhere internationally, and have cost the church about $2 billion in settlements.

"We went through a terrible period in the church," Pfeifer said. "We had to address it humbly and frankly, that there was a situation that was wrong and to put into place structures to verify that we are providing the safest environment for our children.

"We still have a lot of healing to do, and that takes a long time," he said. "It's something that our society hasn't fully dealt with and we all have to work on."