Raise age of altar servers? Good idea?

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simpleas said:
I’m just pondering the ideas that the church could do to show it’s shame for what it has allowed
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How about we ALL follow the example of Nineveh:

Jonah 3:5

“The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.”
 
I don’t where to find any sackcloth that I would be able to wear.
 
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Cool and then we could all ‘take over’ the church and do away with the hierarchy!
 
Cruciferi said:
How about we ALL follow the example of Nineveh:

Jonah 3:5

“ The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth .”
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Father Heilman is doing this very thing. We’re all keeping St. Michael’s Lent by doing extra penance while we pray for the USA and the church for 54 days.
 
You can get potato sacks at a lot of craft stores.

Coming soon: the thread on "Is it okay for me to wear a potato sack to Mass if I’m doing penance? "
 
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In our parish children are never left alone with the priest. For HIS safety and for the CHILD’s safety. In fact, they change into their little outfits at the end of the Church in full view of anyone who walks by, they are NEVER behind a closed door with the priest.This is what will help end this abuse problem. Is it sad we can’t trust our priests? Yes. Is it necessary to fix this problem? Absolutely.
 
I feel bad for all the good, decent Priests and clergy who must feel like they are treated like sex offenders because of these atrocities and their cover-ups. I cannot believe how short-sighted the thinking was when the abuse was endemic—had they dealt with it harshly as soon as they knew there was a problem, the Church would be so much healthier today.
 
No, I don’t think that’s a good solution because:

1: not all th victims of abuse are 7 years old or younger

2: action needs to be taken against the ABUSERS, not the abused
 
If you read through the statistics, most of the victims are post-pubescent. The issue is not controlling the environment around the priests. The issue is that there is a problem with the selection and training of priests that has generated an entire subculture that fosters and protects abusive individuals as priests. This is what needs to be addressed.
 
Hmm our alter servers are in their 40’s if I had to guess, besides this one adorable Asian girl who’s probably 10 but walks around like she’s in charge. I don’t think this is going to help, I mean what’s next? Ban children under 17 from entering the church? I’m sure satan would like that. Anyhow, God bless.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
They need to be made aware of this possibility for all adults for whom they come in contact - not just priests, and not just males.
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Anybody here heard of May Kay Letourneau? High school teacher who “molested” a 14 year old boy in her class. Did several years in prison for it.
And yes, when she was released she went right back to the same kid. By that time he was of age and she ended up marrying him. Strange lady. Not quite playing with all 52 cards in the deck.

I know of another rather lovely female high school teacher in Florida who was in the papers for doing the same thing. And there have been others. So TB is right here.
That said, I still say you don’t light a match nest to an open cannister of gasoline.
 
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In my diocese, all persons including altar servers must complete the Safe Environment training (face to face) before they can work or volunteer in the Church. There are adult only sessions and before adulthood sessions. So why discriminate against pre-adult altar servers?
 
Ann_Stanton said:
In my diocese, all persons including altar servers must complete the Safe Environment training (face to face) before they can work or volunteer in the Church. There are adult only sessions and before adulthood sessions. So why discriminate against pre-adult altar servers?
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My own thinking was not about discrimination against children serving on the altar, it was more in line with protecting children in area’s where they may be more vulnerable.
Our diocese here does the same as you have describe, but I wonder is this implemented around the world for each diocese?

What did you make of the popes letter linked in post 29 above?
 
I can’t speak for the world, but pretty much every diocese in USA now has safe environment policies as a response to all of the sex abuse scandals that came up over the last 20 years. If there are one or two somewhere in US that don’t have such policies yet, I’m betting they will get them now since this latest scandal broke.
 
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simpleas said:
Does anyone think raising the age from 7 for altar servers would show that the church is taking more steps to stamp out and keep out abuse of minors?
Here in UK we have safeguarding programs, and now most priests are never alone in the sacristy with children.

I know it sounds a bit extreme.
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The largest class of victims is males between 14-17, not children the age you are referring to.
Just a point to keep in mind…

Here’s a good solution: in our parish we have a couple of dads who serve with their young children. It sets a good example and if anyone were tempted, the presence of a father would be a deterrent.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
I can’t speak for the world, but pretty much every diocese in USA now has safe environment policies as a response to all of the sex abuse scandals that came up over the last 20 years. If there are one or two somewhere in US that don’t have such policies yet, I’m betting they will get them now since this latest scandal broke.
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Oh yes, the “protecting children and those who serve them” program, which shines a light everywhere but where it should shine!!!

My wife has to get fingerprinted while Fr McCarrick is promoting his favorites to positions of power. Maybe they don’t have fingerprints??

The safe environment policies do everything but root out the real problem.
 
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