PEOPLE of GOD
April 2020
13
April is Abuse Awareness Month By Annette Klimka, Victim Assistance Coordinator It has been over 20 years since we began to be aware that sexual abuse and harassment had become a serious problem in our Church. In that time, we have identified and removed many staff and clergy who had been involved in sexual misconduct. We have also provided counseling, financial assistance and legal settlements to victims of sexual abuse. As a result of this turmoil, some people have called this the worst epoch in the history of the Church. Some have called into question our leadership of bishops and priests. I disagree. As painful as the last few years have been for all of us, there is another story. This story does not make headlines and it is not featured on the ten o’clock news. It is the story of a Church that is learning through prayer, education and experience what it takes in today’s world for a community of faith to work together to protect God’s children. One key has been the archdiocesan policy on zero tolerance. Archbishop John C. Wester has stood firm by his resolve that sexual abuse of children will not be tolerated in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe by anyone: priest, religious, deacon, or lay volunteer. To support this resolve, the archbishop appointed an Independent Review Board of professional women and men in our community to evaluate all allegations against clergy and make recommendations to him. To date, all recommendations have been accepted. We also have a policy of proactive communication and cooperation with civil authority and law enforcement. All allegations are reported to the district attorney in the county where the victim resides. A second key to child safety is education in abuse prevention. All adults in any ministry or employment
are required to complete the Virtus Training Program either on-line or in person training sessions. The Virtus Training is a nationally recognized program utilized by many dioceses across the county. Our Church has made a number of strides to educate our parishioners to be vigilant in keeping our parish environment safe for everyone. A third key to a safe environment is open communication. When I started in the mental health field, there was not as much information of the extent and severity sexual abuse in our country. There is now a greater awareness and more resources to deal with the problem. Many excellent therapists are available to work with victims. This is very important. In the longrun however, I believe it is our growing awareness as a community of faith that will prevent the majority of crimes against our children. When we all take child protection seriously and dedicate ourselves to ensuring the safest possible environment for our children, we will see fewer incidents of abuse. It’s already happening. We aren’t perfect, but we’re learning. It’s a process. With God’s help and our continued watchfulness, we can create a better place to live and grow.
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2020 Abuse Awareness Training for Adults Creating a Safe Environment for Our Children - Sponsored by the ASF
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