A Safe Environment

Over the last two years, we have been immersed in the tragic scandals that rocked our Church, both locally and nationally. During the past 12 months, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has implemented changes and developed policies to ensure transparency and accountability. We continue to work diligently on creating a safe environment within the Church for all of God's family, especially for children and youth.

Following are a few questions that have been commonly asked regarding archdiocesan efforts:

1. What is the Archdiocese of Milwaukee doing to create a safe environment for children?

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is using the "Protecting God's Children" awareness building program among all parish, school and archdiocesan central office employees, as well as volunteers who work with children and youth. This program was created by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group and is one of our efforts in complying with the US Bishops' Charter to Protect Children and Young People.

Every parish, school and diocesan employee will take part in a three-hour training session. As follow-up, they continue learning from a series of training bulletins over the next year. They will need to read and sign an "ethics and mandatory reporting statement," which is kept on file, and they are subject to a criminal background check. For diocesan priests and deacons, these documents are filed with the Chancery Office; for all other employees, they are filed at the individual's parish or school.

Volunteers who have regular contact with minors also participate in the same training session as employees. They also need to read and sign the "ethics and mandatory reporting statement," which will be kept on file at the parish or school along with their criminal background check.

All efforts and programs in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee that relate to protecting God's children and creating a safe environment come under the umbrella of Safeguarding All of God's Family. We have chosen this name because, though our concern first and foremost is protecting the children, we are developing comprehensive efforts to safeguard and educate all of God's family - children, their parents and relatives, parish and school personnel, volunteers, clergy and central office personnel.

If you have questions about the Safeguarding All of God's Family program, contact Maureen Gallagher, 414-769-3450 or gallagherm@archmil.org

2. Will this program make a difference?

The "Protecting God's Children" program offers a wonderful opportunity for all adults working in parishes and schools to increase their awareness and knowledge of child sexual abuse in order to prevent any child from suffering this trauma, whether from school or Church personnel, family member or other adult. Statistics show that most abuse occurs within the family. Participating in this program helps all adults be more attuned to the warning signs of abuse, learn strategies for handling suspicions of abuse, and identify ways to respond to abuse.

3. When will parish and school personnel complete the "Protecting God's Children" program?

Archdiocesan central office staff completed the initial awareness building program in late December 2003 and January 2004. Parish and school staff and volunteers are completing the program some time between late January and May 31. New hires to the central offices, parishes and schools, as well as anyone legitimately prevented from complying with the May 31 deadline, will complete it by October 31, 2004.

4. Who is responsible for ensuring that staff and volunteers complete this program?

In a parish, the pastor, parish director or administrator is ultimately responsible for everyone's completion of the program; however he/she may delegate some of this responsibility. For example, a pastor may delegate the responsibility to the principal for school employees and to the director of Religious Education and director of Youth Ministry for those with whom they work. In schools not associated with a parish, the principal is responsible for overseeing people's completion of the "Protecting God's Children" program.

5. How can I report abuse?

If a victim-survivor of sexual abuse wants to make a report, he or she can contact any of the following: the civil authorities in the city or county where the abuses occurred; one of the various community programs offering free services to sexual abuse survivors (a complete list of such agencies is available at www.archmil.org); or Dr. Barbara Reinke, director of the archdiocesan office for sexual abuse response at 414-769-3436, or e-mail at reinkeb@archmil.org, or Dr. Anna Campbell, a licensed psychologist in private practice, who works outside the Church structure, at 414-476-2699.

It is important that all members of the Church work together for the good of our children and youth, and for the betterment of all God's family. We are moving forward from the shock and pain of the abuse scandals to a time of reconciliation, healing and renewal. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance as we forge our way together.