Policies aren’t enough to protect children from abuse, churches must take action

by Richard J. Mathews, Director of Safe Environment for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth,

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth is attacking the evil of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults with increased rigor and intensity.

Policies are not enough to make and maintain the safest environment for children, youth and vulnerable adults. The Diocese of Fort Worth took it a step further and instituted specific actions to protect youth and to bring healing to those who have suffered from abuse.

Our program focuses on:

1. Adhering to the diocese’s code of conduct, by which all are called to hold themselves and others accountable.
2. Knowing the warning signs of potentially predatory adult behavior, which includes understanding how perpetrators act and how they manipulate situations and persons to prey upon others.
3. Controlling access to children through screening, which includes standardized applications for everyone; extensive criminal background checks and reference checks; face-to-face interviews; and mandatory training or awareness sessions before someone begins volunteering or working, including clergy.
4. Monitoring all programs and ministries to ensure safe procedures are followed, such as requiring that any interaction with children be open and public and that all doors have windows.
5. Knowing and understanding child behavior and recognizing changes that may indicate symptoms of grooming, sexual abuse or other problems in their lives.
6. Communicating and documenting to the diocese any concerns that result in someone being uncomfortable with another’s behavior to facilitate appropriate action, even if abuse is not suspected or occurring. Any individual who suspects or is aware of abuse is required to personally report it to law enforcement and Child Protective Services, in addition to the diocese.

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