Protestant churches recognize the danger of people who would take advantage of children.
I know of several churches which have instituted rather strict policies in regards to people who work with children. That includes background checks, references, never, ever, ever, having men only in the nursery or working with children alone, doors refitted with windows so that anyone can check in any time and see what’s going on in the children’s rooms, isolating the children’s wing from visitor’s (not that it’s closed off, but visitor’s are not allowed to go down there unless accompanied by an authorized staff person), sign in and out sheets so that only approved people can pick up children from Sunday school or children’s church.....
We recognize the danger not only to the children from adults, but the danger to adults, men in particular, of false accusations and how devastating that can be to someone.
We recognize that it’s not a fool proof system and that just as someone determined to get a gun and shoot people will do so, no matter how oppressive gun legislation is, abuse can still occur. However, we try to minimize the potential.
I feel for all of you Catholics who recognize and admit to the problem and are working to correct it. That is obedience to Christ.
Denial and blame shifting, in an apparent attempt to take the heat off, does nothing to give anyone any indication that Catholics in general are taking this seriously.
The account that caww related upthread of a Catholic congregation who knew of a situation in their own parish and dismissed it, makes your job all the harder.
signs of the times. The problem is not unique to churches, in the past it happened routinely in schools, superintendants just passed them along, anything to get them out of their jurisdiction. Plus in the past, society was in denial