One of the ways the Diocese of Camden is committed to protecting children is by requiring safe environment training to the adults who have contact with them. In July 2018, the diocese began implementing VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children as the training session that is used by nearly 75% of all the dioceses in the United States.
These training sessions are three hours long, but they include two videos and are interactive. Protecting God’s Children sessions have been very well received by the adults who have been trained. The adults deeply appreciate the interactive discussion and learning not only how to identify potential abusers but also how to protect children by following a five-step plan.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People requires all priests and deacons to receive safe environment training. This includes retired priests and deacons who may engage even in limited ministry. The Diocese of Camden requires training every five years and this fall all the priests and deacons are due to be retrained.
Rod J. Herrera, the director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection, has set up several training sessions during the months of October and November for the priests and deacons to attend. “During these training sessions, our clergy will learn how child sexual abuse affects victims, what are some characteristics of those who molest, but more importantly how we all together can protect children by implementing a five-step plan,” Herrera says. Herrera will be joined by several trained VIRTUS® facilitators.
Adults who have regular contact with children can easily find upcoming Protecting God’s Children sessions by logging onto the VIRTUS website. A VIRTUS® icon is on the Diocese of Camden website.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
