Detection and Prevention Programs Ongoing in Diocese

Protecting God’s Children, a program developed by VIRTUS and the National Catholic Risk Retention Group, has been presented to over 13,000 adults in the 11-county Rockford Diocese since it began here in 2002.

Sister Patricia Downey, OP, Diocesan Director of Educational Services, said the goal of providing training to every person in the diocese, paid or volunteer, having direct contact with children is being achieved.

In addition, the Rockford Diocese has been offering programs to educate parents and children in recognizing and reporting sexual abuse since 2003.

The VIRTUS program, Protecting God’s Children, used in this diocese trains participants in a variety of areas including recognizing and preventing potential abuse and care of those who might come forward from abusive incidents.

VIRTUS is a brand name that identifies best practices programs designed to prevent wrongdoing and promote "right doing" within religious organizations.

The training debunks commonly held myths about sexual offenders and stresses the lasting psychological damage caused by abuse.

Training videos feature interviews with both perpetrators and victims.

Bishop Thomas G. Doran introduced the first Protecting God’s Children Program in October 2002 and said he hoped the program would help assure that children in the Rockford Diocese would be safe from the ravages of abuse and neglect no matter where they occur.

Sister Patricia said the VIRTUS training programs would be ongoing in the diocese. She reported that every person in the diocesan Catholic school system whether paid or volunteer having direct contact with children has been trained.

By June 1, 2004 every person involved in diocesan religious education, paid or volunteer, received training as well.

In September of each year, the entire process of training begins again for all new volunteers and personnel coming into the diocese.

In addition to employees and volunteers, the diocese also began offering the Protecting God’s Children Program to Catholic parents in 2003.

Diocesan children are also receiving education on recognizing and reporting sexual abuse through the Personal Safety Program, a sexual abuse education program offered by the Carrie Lynn Children’s Center in Rockford and the Child Advocacy Center of McHenry County. The Centers also provide direct initial and ongoing service to child victims of severe sexual and physical abuse.

The Personal Safety Program helps children in kindergarten through twelfth grade to recognize signs of abuse, helps give them age-appropriate personal skills to avoid abuse and instructs them in what to do if they are abused.

The children’s program is now complete in the Winnebago, Boone, Stephenson, DeKalb, Kane, and McHenry area Catholic schools and has now moved on to the Lee, JoDavies and Whiteside area Catholic Schools.

"We feel very good about the quality of the training we are able to offer in this diocese to protect our children," Sister Patricia said.

"Sexual abuse can no longer be kept a secret. Adults and children must be taught how to prevent it. And, God forbid if abuse does occur, they need to be taught to report it," she said.

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