Paedophilia: Catholic Church Harps on Sex Education in Schools
Kuni Tyessi
Worried by the rampant cases of child molestation and the released global statistics that seven out of 10 children have gone through abuse of any kind, particularly sexual abuse, the Catholic Church has called for the teaching of sex education in schools.
It said with sex education, children will be enlightened enough to know about their sexuality and when it is abused, adding that children, young people and vulnerable adults must be helped with the advances in psychology and the art and science of teaching in order to harmoniously develop their physical, moral and intellectual endowments.
Cardinal Giuseppe Veralsaldi, who made this known recently at the third national Catholic Education Summit in Abuja, with the theme ‘Catholic Education in Nigeria: Challenges of Child Protection and Human Sexuality’, said Catholic schools must teach human sexuality in the light of magisterial exposition, adding that teachers must avoid the quick method of googling topics on human sexuality as the basis of their class note on the topic.
Regretting that the church globally is in crisis as a result of sexual abuse committed by a few clerics, he said it is pertinent to note that the present church law on protection of minors and vulnerable adults is one of the most comprehensive by any modern day institution.
Verasaldi, whose speech was read by the Archbishop of Benin City, Edo State, Most Reverend Augustine Akubeze, said testimonies of the victims or survivors of sexual abuse show the trust of the people betrayed, thus creating credibility problems for the church, and if not dealt with is capable of draining the moral voice of the church globally.
He revealed that Pope Francis recently condemned episcopal failure in dealing with sexual abuse in minors and reiterated that clergymen will be held accountable when they abuse or fail to protect children.
“Within our family of faith and our human families, the sins and crimes of sexual abuse of children must no longer be held in secret and in shame. We bishops, all priests, consecrated men and women and all those who work in Catholic institutions in Nigeria must ensure that there is safe environment for every child and vulnerable adults.
“Education is one of the best ways to help a person discover the truth. Catholic schools should all be places of holistic formation of the human person. Education is to help people discover the truth. Education is not to manufacture truths.
“Let us seek the truth through the kind of education we provide for our youths. We must meet the youths and children where they are. The education in our Catholic schools must make provisions for proper education of the use of social media,” he added.