Prevention of child sexual abuse is a societal problem, and the need for broad child-abuse prevention measures throughout society is enormous. Studies indicate one in five girls and one in 10 boys are sexually abused prior to the age of 18.

On a variety of fronts, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles -- determined and committed to providing a safe environment for children at parishes and parish schools -- has taken steps to address and prevent the sexual abuse of minors by clergy.

The above article outlines action taken through the Archdiocese, its Office of Vocations and St. John's Seminary to ensure that no one who would abuse minors is ordained to the priesthood. Following are additional major actions the Archdiocese has taken in this regard:

Safeguarding the children
In 2002, Cardinal Roger Mahony established the Office of Safeguard the Children and the adoption of rigorous archdiocesan policies, including the mandatory formation of Safeguard the Children Parish Committees as a foundational measure in ensuring the safe environment of our parishes and schools throughout the Archdiocese.

More than 95 percent of the Archdiocese's nearly 300 parishes have formed a permanent committee to coordinate initiatives such as education opportunities, site evaluations, and local presentations by speakers including police, nurses and therapists. The committees are also responsible for implementing archdiocesan safe environment policies and procedures.

Training programs
Beginning in 2003 an emphasis has been put on awareness and training programs implemented by the Office of Safeguard the Children. Such training is having far reaching effects in maintaining a safe environment at all archdiocesan parishes and schools. "The only way we will make a difference is through education," says Joan Vienna, director of the Offices of Safeguard the Children and Family Life.

The VIRTUS® Adult Awareness Sessions are mandatory for all parish and school volunteers, teachers, clergy, religious, staff and paid personnel who work in any capacity with or around children. Participants are trained to recognize warning signs that indicate an adult is engaged in an inappropriate or abusive relationship with a child. Since VIRTUS was introduced in the archdiocese in early 2004, more than 30,000 people have participated in the training.

Additionally, the archdiocese mandates that all coaches at Catholic elementary schools, as well as those who coach in the Catholic Youth Organization, attend two-hour sessions, offered in all five pastoral regions, that addresses child protection laws and procedures, plus character and safety training. The initial two-year certification is followed by mandatory continuing education.

For students in grades K-6 in parish schools and Religious Education programs throughout the Archdiocese, the Good-Touch/Bad-Touch® body safety program teaches them the definition of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

Fingerprinting and background checks
The Archdiocese requires all priests, teachers, and other parish employees, staff and volunteers who work with children to be fingerprinted. Fingerprints are run through a criminal database, and anyone with a prior history of child abuse or endangerment is permanently barred from church ministry. More than 50,000 priests, parish and school employees and volunteers have been fingerprinted and cleared by authorities to work with children.

Reporting abuse
All teachers and catechists working with young people are trained to report to Child Protective Services or the local police department if they even suspect a child or youth is being abused. The three counties of the Archdiocese --- Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura --- each have County Child Abuse Hotlines.

All adults working or volunteering in parishes/programs are required to sign a "Code of Conduct: Guidelines for Adults Interacting with Minors at Parish and Parish School Events." These Guidelines delineate acceptable behaviors and appropriate boundaries.

Victims Assistance Ministry
The Office of Assistance Ministry was created by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in April 2002 to receive allegations of sexual abuse by diocesan or church personnel, and facilitate the reporting and healing process for victims.

The goals are to offer victims a safe and compassionate environment for reporting sexual abuse to the church; to receive and gather correct information on alleged incidents; to ensure that the proper civil authorities are notified; to obtain counseling and therapy for the victims as soon as possible, and for as long as is necessary; and to assist victims in reconciling with the Church.

Headed by Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Sheila McNiff, the office receives calls reporting allegations of abuse on a 24-hour hotline (800-355-2545) and addresses them within 24 hours. Resources can be made available to serve individuals regardless of language.

Dealing with allegations of abuse
The Archdiocese has comprehensive policies and procedures for clergy and all employees that govern correct behavior toward children and youth. These policies also include procedures when abuse is alleged, and penalties if that abuse is found to have occurred.

The Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board monitors all Archdiocesan policies and procedures related to sexual abuse by clergy. The Board is comprised of 13 people, 11 of whom are lay persons (including the parent of a child abused by a priest). All cases of alleged sexual misconduct by a priest or deacon are presented to the Board, which reviews all relevant information and makes a written recommendation to the Archbishop.

Resources and education
Information on these and other programs are found on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles website, http://www.archdiocese.la/protecting/index.php. Among its features are links to the Assistance Ministry Office; archdiocesan policies and procedures for reporting abuse and dealing with abuse claims made against priests and other church representatives; and the Archdiocese's 2004 Report to the People of God, which traces the evolution of the archdiocese's response to claims of sexual abuse by priests from 1930 to the present.

A listing of bulletin announcements regarding child safety issues --- many of which have run for more than a year each week in The Tidings newspaper --- is also available for downloading. Educational resources outlining policies and procedures are found in brochures available at parishes and through the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has designed and implemented these adult education, training and reporting programs to ensure that its parishes and communities are safe for all children.