Archdiocese Brings in Resources for Parents, Children, Ministry Leaders, from Texas-based Group
By Agnieszka Krawczynski
The Archdiocese of Vancouver is working with a Texas-based group to train parents, children, and ministry leaders in ways to root out abuse. "Our policy has a goal of creating safe parish environments, and you can create safe parish environments in many ways," said Sharon Goh, the coordinator of the ministry called "Protecting God's Children" (PGC). PGC issued a new policy in December 2009 requiring every parish to screen every volunteer or employee who might work near children. Now the archdiocese is taking prevention to the next level by working with Praesidium, an organization in Arlington, Tex., that specializes in abuse-risk management. "We're trying to make everything as transparent as possible through screening and proper recruitment," said Goh. "Next is education. Education is important because we're hoping to get everyone in the community on the same page." So far, 17 parishes have opted to use Praesidium's resources, which come at a cost of $200 a year and include instructional videos, informatiooon on the latest research on abuse, and interactive online training. "This is going to be an ongoing part of how ministries operate," said Christy Schiller, director of religious accreditation at Praesidium. She led a workshop for about 130 priests, deacons, and lay people at Rosemary Heights Retreat Centre Sept. 12. "I can't tell you how many times we've come to an organization after abuse has happened, in a school for example, and we talk to teachers who are just sick. They say: 'I always thought there was something strange about that situation, but I was going to sit and wait until I really thought it was bad enough to say something,'" Schiller recounted. She warned, "Folks, by the time you have that stack of evidence you think you need, it's too late." Schiller said one of the goals of the educational program is to create a common language about boundaries. That way, inappropriate behaviour is easier to spot. She dashed some misconceptions about abusers, saying only 10 per cent of them are strangers, while 90 per cent of them are known to their victims, adding, they are not limited to single, middle-aged males. "You need a protocol for what you do if you see something suspicious." While every parish has a screening coordinator, as mandated by the PGC policy, those using Praesidium material must train facilitators to set up workshops for parents, children, and ministry leaders. At Schiller's workshop, 14 facilitators were trained. The organization is known primarily in the U.S.A., but has also been involved in Calgary and Edmonton, and consulted with Vatican child protection groups in July. Getting connected with Praesidium is still optional for Vancouver parishes. "We've had lots of discussion about whether this program should be mandated for now or not," said Dan Moric, the archbishop's delegate for administration. "Ideally, we would like all parishes to start now. But the goal is to close the gap over an appropriate time frame." The PGC policy, mandatory for all parishes since 2009, involves a screening process with interviews, reference checks, and police record checks. Every volunteer or employee must also sign a code of conduct. It was updated in May 2012 to include volunteers serving vulnerable adults by delivering Communion to hospices or homes. "We want to prevent people who want to take advantage of elderly people from joining that group," Goh explained. All priests in the archdiocese have also attended Praesidium workshops on clerical sexual abuse. "I think it is worth it," said Father Augustine Obiwumma, pastor of St. Matthew's Parish, after Schiller's talk. "This program has given me a tool to protect my children, my parishioners, and those who work for me from all forms of potential abuses."
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