Hundreds trained to prevent abuse

More than 500 people attended meetings last week to learn how to prevent the sexual abuse of children and recognize it when it occurs.

Two training sessions for Church workers were held at St. Clare's Church in Colonie on Feb. 20. More sessions will be scheduled at locations and dates to be announced. By the end of 2003, everyone in the Diocese who works with children will have had a chance to attend the training.

Presenting the information during the programs, each of which lasted more than three hours, was Paul Ashton, a representative of Virtus, a new program adopted by the Albany Diocese as part of its on-going implementation of the U.S. bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" (see Feb. 13 issue or www.evangelist.org for more information).

Questions and answers

Sister Kathleen Turley, RSM, diocesan chancellor for planning, said that those in attendance at the meetings "raised some excellent questions" after hearing Mr. Ashton's presentation and viewing videos prepared by Virtus.

The videos, which include the views of experts in child abuse as well as those of victims and perpetrators, were created specifically for Catholic institutions.

The questions "showed how seriously people are taking this issue," Sister Kathleen said, "and how much they want to do something to prevent abuse."

Responsibility

Sister Marilyn Murray, RSM, director of human resources for the Diocese, said that "all Church leaders and personnel must have the ability to recognize signs of sexual abuse and how to respond to them.

"During the coming months, this program will be presented throughout the Diocese, and anyone who works for or volunteers for our programs will have the opportunity and the responsibility to attend."

She summed up the core message of the training as "child sexual abuse can be prevented, and we in the Catholic Church will do all that we can to prevent it and to create safe environments for all children."

Reactions

The Evangelist asked some people who attended the Virtus training to share what they learned as a result:

* "It gave me a greater awareness of opportunities for people to take advantage of children and of our need to protect children. The opportunity to be alone with a child puts everyone at risk." -- Diane Szabel, director of services at Catholic Charities, Schoharie.

* "I work with altar servers, and I know I must be more aware how I and others deal with and treat them. I learned how severe this problem is and that it is not noticeable. We need to look deeper and take care that we truly look after our children. They are our best resource." -- Marilyn Helenek, sacristan, St. Clement's Church, Saratoga Springs.

* "I learned the feelings from the perpetrator because, in my job, I usually don't see that point of view." -- Becky Rivera, shelter manager, Trinity Lutheran Church, Amsterdam.

* "I'm on the front line. I recruit teachers for religious ed programs, so I need to know who to accept and who to reject for the well-being of children. I learned that people who do such damage have no remorse. They think they are doing a 'favor' to children!" -- Louise B. Evans, pastoral associate, Sacred Heart Church, Stamford.

* "Anything that can make life safer for young people is worthwhile. As difficult and disturbing as this topic is, I agree with our Bishop that this educational effort can be the 'silver lining' to our current crisis. Child sexual abuse is a society-wide problem, and we, the Catholic Church, can reach millions if we unite in this effort." -- Pat Raup, pastoral associate for faith formation, Our Lady of Mercy parish, Colonie.

* "I need to look at our children's world as they see it, not just as I view it. [I learned] that a perpetrator may not show any remorse." -- Jack Simeone, associate executive director, Catholic Charities of Albany and Rensselaer counties.

(Contributing to this report was Karen Dietlein, staff writer.)

(02-27-03)