TEN POINTS FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN

Teresa M. Kettelkamp
Executive Director
Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection

1. Sexual molestation is about the victim. Many people are affected when a priest abuses a minor, but the individual most impacted is the victim who has suffered a violation of trust that can affect his or her entire life. The abuser, the family of the abused, and the parish community are all affected by this sin and crime, but the primary person of concern must be the victim.

2. No one has the right to have access to children. If people wish to volunteer for the church, for example, in a parish or school, they must follow diocesan guidelines on background checks, safe environment training, policies and procedures, and codes of conduct. No one, no matter who they are, has an automatic right to be around children or young people who are in the care of the church without proper screening and without following the rules.

3. Common sense is not all that common. It is naive to presume that people automatically know boundaries so organizations and families have to spell them out. For example, no youth minister, cleric or other adult leader should be in a child's bedroom, alone with the child.

Diocese of Charlotte Safe Environment Program Overview

We as the Church must foster in every person the belief and awareness that as a child of God they are deserving of love and respect. Just as the shepherd looks after his sheep, we ask that the Good Shepherd to guide us as we care for and protect the most vulnerable among us.

In 2002, the bishops of the United States issued the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The charter addressed the Church's commitment to respond effectively, appropriately and compassionately to cases of abuse of minors by priests, deacons or other church personnel.

In August 2010, the Diocese of Charlotte underwent an audit conducted by the Gavin Group, an agency contracted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to ascertain and document the progress made by dioceses in the United States in the implementation of the charter. The audit included the period of July 2009 through June 2010. At the compliance audit's conclusion, the Diocese of Charlotte was found to be compliant with all articles of the charter.

The Diocese of Charlotte's safe environment program includes four components: effective policies for the protection of children, appropriate screening of employees and volunteers, education for adults and children about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people, and procedures for reporting concerns to the proper authorities.