Abuse experts urge focus on quality of safe environment programs

Published: 2007-04-16

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Now that nearly every U.S. diocese has a safe environment program to protect children against sexual abuse, attention needs to be focused on the programs' quality and effectiveness, which vary widely, a panel of experts told participants at the National Catholic Educational Association convention. Two officials of the Boston Archdiocese, where the clergy sex abuse crisis first came to light, and a representative of a nonprofit group working to improve children's well-being addressed an April 12 workshop session at the NCEA convention in Baltimore. Teresa Kettlekamp, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection, also was scheduled to be at the workshop but was snowbound in Chicago. Her section of the workshop was presented by the other panelists. The workshop took place the day after the release of a report prepared by Kettlekamp's office showing that most U.S. dioceses and Eastern Catholic eparchies were in full compliance with the bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," which mandates safe environment programs for all clergy, church employees and volunteers working with children.

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