Safe environment efforts continue

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was issued in June 2002 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Charter calls every diocese to establish ‘safe environment’ programs in cooperation "...with parents, civil authorities, educators, and community organizations to provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children." Each diocese is also expected to "...make clear to clergy and all members of the community the standards of conduct for clergy and other persons in positions of trust, with regard to sexual abuse."

To this end, all paid employees and pastoral leaders in the diocese attended day-long safe environment workshops presented by Fr. Roman Paur, O.S.B., in September and October of 2003.

All volunteers (teachers, catechists, support personnel, coaches, etc.) who work with children and youth on a consistent basis are required to receive training in the prevention and recognition of all forms of abuse against youth. All catechists and teachers are to be trained to teach children and youth in an age-appropriate way about safe environments. They will share this information with children and youth through lessons in both school and catechetical settings.

School principals and parish catechetical leaders were trained in November by the Diocesan Office for Schools and the Diocesan Office for Religious Education about how to implement a training plan in their schools and parishes. Safe environment training for volunteers is to take place in each parish or area faith community sometime during December 2003 or January 2004. Any other interested adults are invited to attend these training sessions.

The training of children and youth will be conducted by teachers and catechists during the month of February in classrooms or in family catechetical settings. Parents will be notified about this training. The training will emphasize the Gospel call to treat all people with dignity and respect, and will be an ongoing process in the New Ulm diocese.