Rca Issues Guidelines on Sex Abuse

By Uriel Heilman
JTA
July 12, 2013

http://www.jta.org/2013/07/12/news-opinion/rca-opposes-child-abuse

The Rabbinical Council of America — the main professional association for Modern Orthodox rabbis in the United States — has put out a statement calling “upon all synagogues and schools to adopt policies geared towards preventing sexual abuse.”

Is this notable, or can we just assume that rabbis are against sex abuse?

Among the recommendations:

Training staff to prevent sexual abuse.

Using sex registries to warn communities when a convicted sex offender moves to town.

Running background checks on all employees.

Not allowing an adult and child to be alone together.

Clarifying what kind of physical contact is unacceptable.

Now, will synagogues and schools heed the call?