Coloring, comic books aim to protect students from sexual abuse

Published: 2007-12-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A new comic book produced by the Archdiocese of New York aims to help middle school and high school students protect themselves from sexual predators and have the courage to report improper advances. Called "Archangel," the 28-page comic book tells the story of a young man -- once a victim of sexual abuse himself -- who learns at his new school that the father of one student is abusing some other young women at the school. In "conversations" with a statue of St. Michael the Archangel at the school, the young man debates whether to report the abuse to school authorities and recalls his parents telling him, "Remember, son, when love is real, it never has conditions. Someone who truly loves you will never say, 'You will if you love me' or 'This is our fun little secret.'" Ed Mechmann, director of the New York archdiocesan Safe Environment Program, said the idea for the comic book and a coloring book for elementary school students that was published last year came from Charles Barnett III, a professional comic book artist. The comic book and the 22-page coloring book, called "Being Friends, Being Safe, Being Catholic," are offered as resources to teachers in archdiocesan schools and religious education classes and have been well-received, Mechmann said.

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