MSP Archdiocese Lags in Child Protection, KTSP, March 31, 2006

MSP Archdiocese Lags in Child Protection

KTSP
March 31, 2006

http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S15232.html?cat=1

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is among about two dozen dioceses around the county that don't meet church child-protection guidelines, according to a new audit by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The diocese has lagged in offering "safe-environment training" to all children in its parish programs and schools, according to the audit released on Thursday.

Archdiocese officials said they weren't surprised by the findings. While a few pilot programs are in place, more widespread training in the schools and parishes is scheduled to begin this fall.

"We're piloting these programs in about 10 parishes right now," said Sister Fran Donnelly, the archdiocese's parish life director. "We'll have parents' meetings before school starts this fall, and they'll be implemented during the school year of 2006-07.

"But we didn't want to rush into that."

Church leaders have moved slowly at least partly because a vocal group of local Roman Catholics has inundated the archdiocese with complaints about the proposed programs, particularly those for elementary-age students.

"We're not against safe environments," said John Murphy, spokesman for one of the groups, Primary Educators. "Our issue is that they're introducing what we believe to be deviant sexual scenarios into the minds of these little children, and any of those kinds of conversation should be done by the parents at home."

Although the archdiocese has recommended certain programs, individual parishes or schools may petition Archbishop Harry Flynn to use a different program - provide it has been approved by the Conference of Bishops.