Oct 6, 2008

Talking About Touching - Kansas City

Local Catholics should read Kansas Catholic on Talking About Touching, the so-called "safety program" created and employed in response to the scandalous sexual abuse of (mostly) young boys by Catholic priests in the U.S. Unfortunately, the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph under Bishop Finn has allowed this Planned Parenthood- and SIECUS-approved program to be introduced into some of his Catholic schools.

What really bugs me is the injustice of the system when the guilty Catholic hierarchy shoves responsibility for solving the sex abuse problem onto lay people and their children. First, it was treating all the parents like criminals to be investigated and fingerprinted if they want to work as volunteers or teachers of youth. Now, little girls and boys are assaulted by a personally invasive educational effort that places sex in the context of a dung pile. [One more injustice on top of parishioners' donations paid as damages to victims!]

Parents of children in Catholic schools should read this observation on the blog of Kansas Catholic:
Few children were abused by priests. But if all Catholic school children can be made to take part in a safety program that robs them of innocence in a different way, then the Father of Lies has someone else doing his work for him, work that reaches more than his last effort. And he even has the apparent sanction of the Church as the project moves forward.
My mother told us kids never to let anyone touch us (except the doctor when a parent was there). Modest clothing was necessary for a good reason--to protect us from bad people. Period! Why isn't that enough?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Children practice safety rules for fire, tornados, etc. It is helpful if the children role play what to do and say, where to go, and who to tell to get help if they are uncomfortable or if someone tries to touch them in a way they don't like or on their bodies. The response becomes more automatic because it is rehearsed, just as the fire drill helps the children respond quickly and automatically.

Abuse prevention can be taught without using anatomically correct terms, much less sexual terms, because it is about teaching the children to stay safe around people.

My parents told me about the same thing you were told, and even though I am female I would have backed it up with a scream, hitting, and running because I was the youngest of 5 siblings! Children of my generation settled things in a manner no longer encouraged.

Now, children are not supposed to hit, even when being hit by another child, and can be suspended for doing so at school. Also, perpetrators may carry weapons.

Times change.

Kansas Catholic said...

Times change. Truth does not.

Anonymous said...

Anon, no offense but those sound like the same type of watery excuses people use to support the use of artificial birth control or even NFP used with a birth control mindset, "times change."
The Church stands outside time. It is possible for adults to protect children without destroying their God given right to the protection of their innocence. It is impossible to role play these scenarios without destroying their innocence. Why, on *earth* should they even need to know that anyone would want to touch their private parts in a bad way?!?!?!

Please, please, please, educate yourself regarding the teaching of the Church on this topic. You cannot ever do bad to achieve good, no matter how lofty the goal.

I would like to see the documentation you have to back up your claim that "it is helpful if the children role play what to do and say, etc.". Opponents of this program have repeatedly cited the Church documentation that backs up our objections. It would be most enlightening to read the documentation that supports the claims you make.

Anonymous said...

Dogma doesn't change...doctrines may change.

I am well-read and knowledgable regarding the Church's teaching, as people may be who do not agree with your or my opinions.

Just because we disagree is no reason to think any of us is less knowledgable.

We are not of this world, but we move through this world.

I have repeatedly read the Church's letter cited on Sexuality and Children from last decade, and agree with it.

Such presentations, as I observed they will be made, are not sexual education.

Have you, as adults, observed trial presentations or reviewed the curriculum as used in your parish?

Reinforcement of modesty and assertivess, esp. when parents can not be present, is important.

And if you disagree...before any presentations are made, parents at parish level (at least mine) have to sign a letter to "opt in" for the presentation to their child or children.