Safe Environment Training

by David Lins  |  02/23/2020  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

This morning, I heard some parishioners grumbling. They were frustrated that some clergy have perpetrated heinous acts against children & vulnerable adults—and now parishioners are being punished by having to jump through flaming hoops (including attending “irrelevant” safe environment classes) just for the privilege of volunteering, when it should be the clergy who need the training.

On the surface, this seems ridiculous.

Except there are several problems with this narrative. Let’s explore them.

1. It hasn’t only been clergy who have perpetrated these crimes in the Catholic Church (along with virtually every denomination). Youth group leaders, religious education instructors, maintenance workers, teachers, and others have been convicted. And these crimes have taken place all over church properties.
2. Priests have to go through safe environment training, as well. Not only that, amazing men who have sacrificed by dedicating their entire lives for our souls are persecuted every day due to guilt by association (of the worst crimes imaginable). They are often the best of us and they are looked at with suspicion everywhere they go because of a sick and twisted minority. They are paying a heavy price.
3. The local Church is responding by working to ensure no one spending significant time on our church campus is a convicted pedophile. I understand this requires a sacrifice on our part. Here’s the thing: as a church employee AND a parishioner who is a father of a toddler, I have one question: “Where do I sign up?”
4. Furthermore, the local Church recognizes not every perpetrator has been caught. So it is asking everyone who is involved in any ministry to be trained - helping us all be more vigilant and equipping us all with the knowledge of what we need to do if we see something suspicious. This helps all of us curb abuse on the church property and anywhere else we spend our days. Again, I say, “Where do I sign up?”

It is the same question Pat Tillman asked in 2002 when he enlisted. THAT was a sacrifice… a sacrifice he made because he wanted to fight something truly evil.

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.