Pennsylvania Catholic Conference Commends Work of the Task Force on Child Protection

Sys-Con Media
November 27, 2012

http://www.sys-con.com/node/2461131

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) today issued the following statement commending the Task Force on Child Protection for its efforts to strengthen mandatory reporting laws to protect victims of child abuse:

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference commends the Task Force on Child Protection for its thorough examination of the laws and procedures governing the mandated reporting of child abuse.

The Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania have for some time required training and extensive background checks for both employees and volunteers who have substantial contact with minors. The Church has trained hundreds of thousands of adults engaged in Church ministries about creating a safe environment for children. Mandated reporters are trained to recognize signs of abuse and to understand their responsibility to take action if abuse is suspected and students receive instruction in age appropriate child abuse awareness programs. Many of the stringent reporting and training requirements were implemented following the U.S. Catholic Bishops' 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which examined child abuse in the Church.

Several Pennsylvania dioceses and Catholic charitable organizations submitted written comments to the task force in support of tougher mandatory reporting laws, less red tape for background checks and more awareness of child abuse prevention. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference will carefully review the task force report and support any recommendations that strengthen reporting, screening and education requirements for all adults who interact with children.