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	Church Program Fights Child Abuse By Michelle Sheldone TCPalm [Florida] October 14, 2006 http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5064271,00.html The young man felt dirty. Used. At one point, he tried to kill himself. He was a victim of child sexual abuse — and he's portrayed in a video that's part of the "Protecting God's Children" program to promote awareness of child sexual abuse. The Diocese of Palm Beach has scheduled the program for this month at Holy Redeemer Church in Palm City and St. Peter Church in Jupiter. It comes on the heels of disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley's recent claim of being molested by a clergyman. But one has nothing to do with the other, according to the diocese. "Mark Foley's vague allegation about sex abuse just last week at the hands of 'clergy' has nothing to do with this program," diocese spokesman Alexis Walkenstein responded in an e-mail Thursday. "This program (is) a proactive attempt to generate awareness of issues for protection of God's children ..." The program, which includes an educational discussion, also is a means of risk control for the church. The National Catholic Risk Retention Group created it as part of an effort to help prevent wrongdoing within religious organizations and address the needs of Catholic communities. "I believe that, at times, we as a Church must be honest in saying that we have made mistakes and that is evidenced in the history of some of the cases that have been dealt with in the United States," a representative in the video says. "Protecting God's Children" was in the development stages when child sexual abuse cover-ups in Boston came to light in 2002, according to Walkenstein. The Palm Beach Diocese instituted the program in August of that year, five months after Bishop Anthony O'Connell became the second in a row to resign following disclosures of inappropriate sexual contact with. Once the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops instituted the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People in 2005, many dioceses adopted the program, Walkenstein said. "The events of the past scandals demand greater vigilance than ever before with regard to children," Walkenstein wrote. "All of society is experiencing an increase in either the reporting of these crimes or an increase in the crimes themselves." Thousands in the area have already participated in "Protecting God's Children," and it is a requirement for all diocesan priests, lay people and volunteers who come in contact with children, she noted. Holy Redeemer has held the program for its volunteer religious educators and, several months ago, arranged for the October session for parents, Religious Education Director Janice Maniscalco said. Kit Johansen, of the Palm Beach Diocese Office of Serving Children, coordinates the three-hour, volunteer-led sessions at the request of parishes. Since January, she's fulfilled 20 to 30 requests, she said. Parents are the "primary people in their children's lives, and we're here to support them," Johansen said. 'PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN' • Holy Redeemer Church, 1454 S.W. Mapp Road, Palm City, 6:30 p.m., Thursday; (772) 286-4590 • St. Peter Church, 1701 Indian Creek Pkwy., Jupiter, 1 p.m. Oct. 22; (561) 575-0837 • Sessions also are planned at Our Lady of Lourdes and St. John the Evangelist in Boca Raton and, in Spanish, at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Delray Beach. • Registration is open to everyone and available at www.virtus.org. FACTS ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE • Most sex offenders are known and trusted by a child's parents or guardians as well as the child. • Most sex offenders are heterosexual. • Most children are not lying when they say they've been sexually abused; 5 percent or less of all allegations are intentionally false. HELP PREVENT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE • Know the warning signs. • Control access. • Monitor the programs in which children participate. Parents should also monitor what young people do on the Internet. • Be aware and communicate concerns. FACTS ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE • Most sex offenders are known and trusted by a child's parents or guardians as well as the child. • Most sex offenders are heterosexual. • Most children are not lying when they say they've been sexually abused; 5 percent or less of all allegations are intentionally false. Source: Protecting God's Children Help prevent child sexual abuse • Know the warning signs. • Control access: Be careful about who you allow to work with children. Know the requirements for background screenings. • Monitor the programs in which children participate. Parents should also monitor what young people do on the Internet. • Be aware and communicate concerns. Child sexual abuse isn't restricted to any one income, racial, demographic or ethnic group, and it can happen in schools, daycare centers and the home. If someone makes a child feel uncomfortable, the child needs to trust his or her feelings and tell a parent or someone they trust. Source: Protecting God's Children and Kit Johansen, Palm Beach Diocese Office of Serving Children
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