CCD classes + Child Lures Prevention Program problems

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Noble

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This past Sunday, our parish had a preview of the Child Lures Prevention Program. After viewing the material and then talking with the person who presented this information. We decided not to have our children attend this program.

We were immediately informed, by a C.C.D. teacher, that this could be grounds for dismissal from the parish religious education program for our children because this is mandatory for all parish religious programs. And that he will not make his first communion next year.
I did some research and found this:
In the apostolic exhortation, The Role of the Christian Family (Familiaris Consortio) Pope John Paul II says again and again that the right of the parents in education is irreplaceable, inalienable, and incapable of being usurped by others.

No. 108 of the Charter of the Rights of the Family tells us distinctly that the contribution of others to education “must be carried out in agreement with the family.”

Has anybody had similar problems.
What are my options??
Tomorrow, I plan to talk to the parish priest and the Coordinator for Child Lures Prevention Program.
 
My heart goes out to you. It seems to me that parishes, particularly lay people in the service of the Church, get some kind of joy out of setting up “hoops” for people to jump through.

Is there another parish in the area, if you don’t like the answer you get, and they can’t explain why it is an aboslutel must?
 
Noble, It’s been years, My last child who attend CCD was 7 years ago and never heard of this. What is it??? Thanks Kay
 
Hmmm…we catechists and aides had to attend a mandatory class with regard to sexual predators (it was required by the diocesd and was actually rather good and informative)…

But I haven’t heard or seen this Child Lures thing…maybe it’s just a state program so other areas don’t have it…though they might have something similar.

What are your objections or hesitations for not having your child receive this training?
 
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Noble:
Something new for all C.C.D. classes grades 1 - 12. Here’s the web site childlures.com/
-Noble
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Oddly, my internet blocker blocked the link.
 
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Noble:
Something new for all C.C.D. classes grades 1 - 12. Here’s the web site childlures.com/
-Noble
Click to expand...
Thank you for providing the info, as far as “forcing” your children to attend this, In my opinion it should be optional. Bad enough the Public Schools try to control what are children are taught. But at least they allow the children (at least in my district) to “opt” out which my kids did for that “Family Life” program.
 
we offer this orientation to the parents. It is supposed to be mandatory, but short of denying the sacraments to their children (which is against canon law) I can’t enforce that. It is up the parents to use the information and assistance offered in this program to educate their children. I notice that a similar secular program is being sold to parents through infomercials on TV. I reviewed with my pastor the material given to us by the diocesan office and we both agreed it is neither prudent nor appropriate to expect volunteer catechists to present it to the children.
 
These child protection programs are so divisive; in our diocese, all the volunteers have to attend VIRTUS and be fingerprinted. The program is very generic (i.e. not aimed at volunteers really, more for all PARENTS and adults who care for children to be aware of the warning signs of abuse). It was fine as far as it went except: it failed to acknowledged the reason we were there (clerical sexual abuse) and the incidence (largely male homosexual priests). Alas, most of the folks in attendance were married women catechists. The program went too far to be political correct and in doing so, lost credibility with me. So did the diocesan director of the program when he denied knowing of any homosexual priests in the diocese. That is not to say that they are all sexual active or predators --that would be really unfair. But please, we’ve had a few scandals relative to homosexual pornography and other dirty laundry hit the press in recent prior years; everyone else except him is aware of them. Granted, once it hit the newspapers, these priests were removed, but not before!

On the other hand, we’ve got people going to the Vatican looking for exceptions to the fingerprinting business. That seems to be carrying things a bit too far, even if the programs tend to be wrong headed and have little hope of weeding out all abusers. I’m not sure what the answer is; at this point, it reminds me of my corporate days with management going through the motions to create policies and procedures to correct for bad “audit points.” I’m beginning to think only God’s protection will keep these children safe.
 
I am not sure VIRTUS is intended to weed out abusers. I think the focus is to train those who have kids, teach kids, etc…to be aware of potentially abusive situations.

I think the point would be that if parents and others in positions of authority had had better radar about situations that were ultimately abusive, many of them wouldn’t have happened in the first place. Pedophiles don’t look like what my mother warned me against I guess is what I’m getting at, and they are not usually homosexual either. So maybe your point about pedophilia not really being the issue in the priest abuse crisis is another issue altogether.

I certainly don’t mind being fingerprinted by the diocese or the school system. I am glad background checks are going on with the people who come in contact with my children.

I am saddened however that we can no longer be affectionate or hug a kid according to the guidelines. I think that may go too far, but I guess it is a tactic used by abusers and could be a problem. The program claims that kids may not recognize improper closeness from an adult if they become less sensitive to it. So we have to all be afraid to touch each other, even putting a hand on a shoulder as encouragement. Too bad.
 
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PJR:
I am not sure VIRTUS is intended to weed out abusers. I think the focus is to train those who have kids, teach kids, etc…to be aware of potentially abusive situations.

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In the long run, a parent does this anyway. We teach our children what is appropriate and what is not.

My heart goes out to those that feel their parental controls are being taken away, but from everything I have read about this, I will trust my Pastor to guide the way.

I think it helps that I am good friends with children’s CCD teachers. If something is inappropriate, they will alert me. No one has yet.
We do have a responsibility to protect all children, I feel. Some parents may be more trusting than others or they may be new to the country. There are bad people out there, why not tell the kids about what they should accept or should not.
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
In the long run, a parent does this anyway. We teach our children what is appropriate and what is not.

My heart goes out to those that feel their parental controls are being taken away, but from everything I have read about this, I will trust my Pastor to guide the way.

I think it helps that I am good friends with children’s CCD teachers. If something is inappropriate, they will alert me. No one has yet.
We do have a responsibility to protect all children, I feel. Some parents may be more trusting than others or they may be new to the country. There are bad people out there, why not tell the kids about what they should accept or should not.
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Yes, but abusers are experts at weeding out the vulnerable and latching on to the ones who’s parents don’t suspect them. They are pros at insinuating themselves into the child’s life. Obviously our instincts can be wrong on occasion or these predators wouldn’t have wound up being so successful.

That was the whole point of Virtus. I really have no knowledge of the other program mentioned that is intended for the children. I would like to hear what OP found offensive about it, just in case it comes up here.

I am not in favor of being told what I will teach my kids, I just think VIRTUS was OK. Nothing earth shattering as someone else noted, but I had already been through similar training anyway. Some people were shocked to see the statistics.

I really think the priest abuse scandal is a whole other story. I know it was handled badly, many mistakes, but the Church was attacked. There is never as much news about a Protestant abuse situation. OK, no more hijacking by me…

If OP would care to elaborate on the other program or anyone else who has had experience with it that would be great.
 
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PJR:
Yes, but abusers are experts at weeding out the vulnerable and latching on to the ones who’s parents don’t suspect them. They are pros at insinuating themselves into the child’s life. Obviously our instincts can be wrong on occasion or these predators wouldn’t have wound up being so successful.

That was the whole point of Virtus. I really have no knowledge of the other program mentioned that is intended for the children. I would like to hear what OP found offensive about it, just in case it comes up here.

I am not in favor of being told what I will teach my kids, I just think VIRTUS was OK. Nothing earth shattering as someone else noted, but I had already been through similar training anyway. Some people were shocked to see the statistics.

I really think the priest abuse scandal is a whole other story. I know it was handled badly, many mistakes, but the Church was attacked. There is never as much news about a Protestant abuse situation. OK, no more hijacking by me…

If OP would care to elaborate on the other program or anyone else who has had experience with it that would be great.
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I agree fully and I am also in favor of seeing what my children are taught. That’s why I homeschool.
I guess the program that I heard about is just fine for us. We have many immigrants at our parish. They are very trusting (I actually contacted our Pastor about leaving children alone there). Some of them don’t quite know how bad it can be out there and this program would help.
I, too would like to see the objections of the program quoted.
 
My twins are in the the First Communion Class. We received a letter stating that if we do not want our children in on this class that we have to submit it in writing. it is not Mandatory. SOmeone enjoys playing the boss.
 
That should have read that if we didnt want our children in the Prevention Class.
 
It can’t be mandatory since it has been put out by the governor. Has the Bishop said it is mandatory? Write to him.
 
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