Perhaps it's time that changed, at least insofar as childhood sex abuse is concerned and should be mandatory. It could be an independent organization that represents all non-Catholic christian denominations. Otherwise, it is easy for an abuser to slip from one congregation and move to another. That is how predators operate.
Here are links to the PCUSA, United Methodist, Missouri Synod Lutheran, Baptist (Southern and American), and Assemblies of God. You can Google any denomination and get their Child Abuse Policy.
Thank you for posting those links. The PCUSA link sets the disappointing tone.
The church has the opportunity to declare and affirm its core values and convictions in relation to the care of the people in the church and those who participate in its mission.Developing and relying on written policies is one step toward creating safe churches. However, there is no single "right" way to create a policy and there is no one easy guide to follow.
IOW, there is no mandate to implement a policy. No mention of fingerprinting all ministers and volunteers who work with children.
The United Methodist link is to a news article from 2005 regarding a bishop and 2 volunteers who will make up an independent panel that will receive and assess reports on alleged child abuse at a denominational mission facility in Africa a generation ago. The policy will apply but not be limited to the “recruiting and screening of all employees and mission personnel. No mention of the US or any other country. Sad.
Moving on to the Southern Baptist Convention, that site provides:
An assortment of records and links to better equip you to exercise diligent scrutiny when hiring staff or choosing volunteers in an attempt to protect your church from the devastating effects of sexual abuse and other moral failures of those in ministry.
The links are to external web sites; there is no set policy for SBC.
The Assemblies of God provide a solid opening statement:
Hundreds of churches have been sued in recent years as a result of the sexual molestation of minors by church workers. Unfortunately, many church leaders continue to ignore this problem and resist implementing a preventive-maintenance program. Too often the thinking is, No child has ever been molested in our church, so why worry? This is a dangerous response to what one church insurance executive has called an epidemic.
They have understood the situation very well, including the mindset of those who claim "this has never happened in our congregation". Like the other denominations, they quickly fizzle with a lengthy list of recommendations. Again, no set policy in place. No requirements for fingerprinting and background checks on all ministers and volunteers who come in contact with children.
Contrast the above with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People established by the Catholic Church.
The primary goal is to protect children, to keep them safe in churches, schools and homes. Another goal is to heal the victims/survivors of clergy abuse.
The accomplishments in just a few years are ones for which the Church can feel proud.
Consider these facts:
The Charter has changed the culture of the Church forever. Making sure children are safe has become an integral part of everyday church life. The English-speaking Catholic Episcopal Conferences meet each year to review how each Conference handles clergy sexual abuse. The Church in the United States stands as a leader among that group. The impact of the U.S. church goes well beyond its borders. There is much for which to be proud. Knowing that and focusing on the why of this work can revitalize efforts to continue to work to provide safe environments for children and to welcome the victims/survivors to the healing they deserve.
“Contrast the above with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People established by the Catholic Church.”
Tell me, what good are the edicts of a “central authority” either inside or outside of a religious body if the implementation of them is left up to individuals? They may be authoritative but from the evidence of obedience they are treated as recommendations.
DUBLIN – Roman Catholic Church leaders in Dublin spent decades sheltering child-abusing priests from the law and most fellow clerics turned a blind eye, an investigation ordered by Ireland’s government concluded Thursday
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091126/ap_on_re_eu/eu_ireland_catholic_abuse
In an attempt to keep the documents secret, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport has admitted in a court filing that it is aware of 32 claims of sexual abuse allegedly committed by eight priests over three decades at the same parish — St. Theresa’s in Trumbull.
The files contained in 126 boxes are part of a legal battle at Superior Court in Waterbury over whether attorneys for the estate of Michael Powel, a now-deceased Florida man, can get the documents as part of a lawsuit against the diocese.
The lawsuit alleges that not only was the diocese aware that it employed Carlo Fabbozzi, a landscaper/maintenance man who allegedly molested Powel more than 50 times over a four-year period from 1968 to 1972, but also that the priest in charge of supervising Fabbozzi, the Rev. Joseph Gorecki, molested Powel as well.
http://www.courant.com/community/bridgeport/hc-secret-priest-files1125.artnov25,0,6197414.story