More than 200 people packed the conference center at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels May 21-22 for training in "Protecting God's Children," a program sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Safeguard The Children.

Participants representing 112 parishes from each deanery and pastoral region throughout the archdiocese attended the "Virtus" training program developed over a six-year period by The National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc. to proactively prevent child sexual abuse.

Joan Vienna, Office of Safeguard The Children coordinator, said plans are underway to have archdiocesan trained facilitators present "Virtus" child protection training to every parish volunteer and staff member by mid-fall, 2004. Over 1,500 church personnel in Santa Barbara have already received training by archdiocesan facilitators over the past two months.

Presenter Sharon Doty, Esq., a child sexual abuse consultant who did the original research for the "Virtus" program initiated in 1997, stated that the Catholic Church is at the forefront of awareness education about child sexual abuse. "We are the model for the rest of the world on this issue," said Doty.

According to Doty, experts estimate that 40 million American adults suffered sexual abuse as children, with molestation occurring in one out of 8-10 males and one out of five females. Of those molestations, say experts, only 11 percent represent abuse committed by strangers with 29 percent committed by relatives and 60 percent committed by acquaintances of the victim. "When caring adults take action, abuse stops," declared Doty.

The "Virtus" program, completed two weeks before the clergy sexual abuse crisis made front-page headlines in Boston, was designed to prevent child sexual abuse by making adult participants aware of sexual abuse perpetuated by adults as well as other children. The training details five steps to prevent child sexual abuse including: knowing the warning signs of inappropriate behavior, controlling who has access to children, monitoring all programs for children, being aware of what's going on in children's lives, and communicating concerns about possible abuse to authorities.

"As a Catholic community, we have a responsibility not to create an occasion of sin," said Doty. "We have to keep known sex offenders away from children. We can never put children at risk."

Social worker Gail Preston, 54, who car-pooled to the event with fellow parishioners from St. Mary Church in Palmdale, agreed that sexual abuse education is sorely needed. "This is an opportunity to bring information and awareness to larger portions of the community," said Preston. "More people will become aware how prevalent sexual abuse is."

Ines Arciga, 29, a youth coordinator at St. Agnes Church in Los Angeles, said she believes child sexual abuse is "something that everyone should be aware of in case you see warning signs." Elizabeth Orellana, 21, also from St. Agnes, called the training a "great opportunity" for the community to learn more. "It's going to continue helping everyone, parents especially," said Orellana.

Mary Lara, 43, a fifth grade teacher at St. Finbar Church in Burbank, described the training as "unique" since participants learn how to identify abusive behavior "before it's too late and you're dealing with the aftermath." St. Finbar's Rita Castro, who will offer child protection training in Spanish to parishioners after completing the online certification process required by all facilitators, declared: "It's very good training for every single person in the whole world."