Safe Environment Program Office at 6363 9th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 US - News
News
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Child abuse remains a national problem. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services there were 905,000 reported child abuse victims in 2006 alone. Imagine if a disease claimed that many young lives. What would be our national response? Abuse, even if it is not fatal, robs a life and damages a child's spirit. It changes who that person is on a fundamental level.
A hallmark of the Catholic Church is the protection of life and dignity of the human person. Through scripture and Catholic teachings we are called to protect the life and dignity of all human persons no matter how young or old. Working to prevent child abuse is an important response of what we are called to do as Church.
To assist parishes and schools, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has developed resources in English and Spanish to facilitate activities to highlight the need for prevention efforts. They include posters, liturgical guides, articles on church efforts to reach out to abuse victims and to protect children, and bulletin announcements. All materials may be downloaded for use locally. The materials are available on the USCCB’s website at http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/april_cap_month_2009.shtml
The Child and youth Protection Secretariat of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has made care for minors a key priority and spearheaded nationwide safe environment programs. Through these programs, more than five million minors already have been educated on such things as how to protect themselves from harm and almost two million adults have undergone background screening and training on appropriate relationships with youth in their care.
There are few things more important than protecting our children from harm, said Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City, South Dakota, chair of the bishops Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People. Child abuse in our society is rampant and we are called to do what we can to stop it. Children are gifts entrusted to us by God. All responsible adults must protect the life and dignity of those gifts. Child Abuse Prevention Month deserves our attention in both prayer and action.
Please see the navigation bar to the right to learn more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg's efforts to protect its children and vulnerable adults from abuse, especially, sexual abuse.
A hallmark of the Catholic Church is the protection of life and dignity of the human person. Through scripture and Catholic teachings we are called to protect the life and dignity of all human persons no matter how young or old. Working to prevent child abuse is an important response of what we are called to do as Church.
To assist parishes and schools, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has developed resources in English and Spanish to facilitate activities to highlight the need for prevention efforts. They include posters, liturgical guides, articles on church efforts to reach out to abuse victims and to protect children, and bulletin announcements. All materials may be downloaded for use locally. The materials are available on the USCCB’s website at http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/april_cap_month_2009.shtml
The Child and youth Protection Secretariat of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has made care for minors a key priority and spearheaded nationwide safe environment programs. Through these programs, more than five million minors already have been educated on such things as how to protect themselves from harm and almost two million adults have undergone background screening and training on appropriate relationships with youth in their care.
There are few things more important than protecting our children from harm, said Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City, South Dakota, chair of the bishops Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People. Child abuse in our society is rampant and we are called to do what we can to stop it. Children are gifts entrusted to us by God. All responsible adults must protect the life and dignity of those gifts. Child Abuse Prevention Month deserves our attention in both prayer and action.
Please see the navigation bar to the right to learn more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg's efforts to protect its children and vulnerable adults from abuse, especially, sexual abuse.
Bishop Lynch announces the results of the 2008 Compliance Audit for the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
Most Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg is pleased to announce that the diocese has completed its 2008 Compliance Audit for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (English) (Español), and has been found to be in full compliance. The audit was conducted by The Gavin Group, Inc., an independent auditing agency and was based upon the norms set forth in the Charter.
For more information about the efforts of the Diocese of St. Petersburg to safeguard our children, young people, and vulnerable adults, please visit the web site for the Safe Environments Office.
For more information about the USCCB Office of Child and Youth Protection, please visit their website.
For more information about the efforts of the Diocese of St. Petersburg to safeguard our children, young people, and vulnerable adults, please visit the web site for the Safe Environments Office.
For more information about the USCCB Office of Child and Youth Protection, please visit their website.
