Archdiocese Mandates Parish Safeguard the Children Committees

In a recent announcement to all parishes in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, Cardinal Mahony mandated the establishment of a Safeguard the Children Parish Committee. This will be a major component of restoring trust in the Church's parishes, schools, programs and apostolates by taking positive and concrete steps toward preventing the abuse or neglect of children and young people.

While the Archdiocese has taken many steps to make certain that, to the best of our knowledge, there is no one in ministry in the archdiocese who has abused a minor, that is only one step in a broader program in restoring trust throughout the Church. It is clear that Catholic parents are eager to assist in such an effort at the parish level, and it is a splendid opportunity to involve parents and parish leaders in their parish school. Religious education program, Confirmation program, youth ministry program, and the like. Following all the negative publicity about child abuse by clergy and others these past several months, many of our parishioners are eager to step forward and help with a sound and broad based educational program aimed at prevention at the parish level.

Cardinal Mahony has mandated that each parish create as soon as possible The Safeguard the Children Parish Committee and parishes must proceed by inviting parish leadership to actively participate in this effort.

The goals of this Committee will be to collect and inform all parish personnel, committees, ministries and volunteers of the available resources for "Safeguard the Children"; inform all parish groups of the Archdiocesan policies and guidelines on reporting child abuse and neglect; and to encourage all parish groups to educate their constituencies on all aspects of child abuse and neglect, for example identification, reporting laws, prevention programs, etc.

It is hoped that this important new initiative will restore trust among our Catholic people.

Under the auspices of St. Mel's Justice and Peace Committee, the establishment of this new Committee at St. Mel parish is now under way.