CALIFORNIA
The Press Democrat
By GUY KOVNER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Reversing his stance on a sensitive issue, Bishop Robert Vasa is allowing the Santa Rosa Diocese to continue offering child safety training in its schools and to participate in a nationwide audit that determines whether dioceses have provided the training intended to prevent child sex abuse.
Auditors working for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will visit the diocese for two days this month. They will examine records and interview the bishop, some priests and other church officials, including members of the review board that handles sex abuse complaints.
Santa Rosa was among the Catholic dioceses that passed last year’s audit for compliance with the child safety standards, including training for children and adults, adopted by the bishops conference in 2002. …
Facts
‘CIRCLE OF GRACE’ PROGRAM
Catholic schools in the Santa Rosa diocese use a program called Circle of Grace to teach students how to recognize and avoid sexual abuse.
The curriculum, developed by the Archdiocese of Omaha, blends Catholic faith with child psychology, said Mary Beth Hanus, a social worker and mental health provider who manages Omaha’s Office of Victim Outreach and Prevention.
“It is clinically sound and it’s faith-based,” said Hanus, an author of the program now used by 18 Catholic dioceses.
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