Protecting kids
Regarding “Priest abuse report tells of devastating, decades-long trail of sexual abuse by Texas clergy” (HoustonChronicle.com, Jan 31): Catholic dioceses are slowly releasing names of predator priests they shielded for decades. The lists are far from complete, and much more must be done to ensure survivors of this abuse find justice and redemption.
But a bigger question is being glossed over: What is being done to ensure not one more child is abused? Now is the time to shift our focus from the predators to the institutions who protected — indeed, enabled — them.
All organizations that serve children must thoroughly background check all staff, faculty and volunteers. Everyone who has contact with children must have training to recognize and report child sexual abuse.
Most importantly, steps must be taken to ensure no adult has unobservable, uninterruptable one-onone contact with a child.
Without clear policies, effective controls and proper training for adults, children will remain in harm’s way.
The Beau Biden Foundation’s Shield of Protection Initiative helps youth serving organizations improve their child protection policies, controls and trainings. We urge the Catholic Church — at the very least, one forward looking diocese — to partner with us. Patricia Dailey Lewis, executive director, Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children, Wilmington, Del.