Catholic Parents Information Meeting “Safe Environments” Curricula Review

March 16, 2006 1

Opening Prayer

• We pray for the Archbishop, priests, catechists, teachers, parents, and children of the Archdiocese: • Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be… • St. Joseph, pray for us!

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Introduction

• Who we are… • 50 Parents from over 15 parishes • Some are parish staff, religious ed, while others are teachers, business men and women etc.

• Independently studying “safe environments” • Loosely organized • Recognize parents as the primary educators of their children 3

Parent to Parent Networking

MISSION “It is recommended that parents associate with other parents, not only in order to protect, maintain, or fill out their own role as primary educators of their children, especially in the area of education for love, but also to fight against damaging forms of sex education and to ensure that their children will be educated according to Christian principles and in a way that is consonant with their personal development” (Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality, 114.1).

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Why are we here?

• Affirm the rightful role and duty of parents to be the Primary Educators of our children • Discuss concerns about certain “safe environments” curricula • Discuss an alternative program and options that Archbishop Flynn has graciously allowed pastors to pursue • What to do next?

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Guidelines for Fruitful Dialogue

• Charity • Openness, candor • Positive and proactive attitude • Prudent, restrained, rational discourse • Resolve to do what’s best for our children 6

Outline for Presentation

• History of the Sex Abuse Crisis • Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People: Article 12 • VIRTUS: “Protecting God’s Children” • “Safe Environments” Curricula chosen for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis • Talking About Touching (TAT) • Formation in Christian Chastity (FICC) 7

History of the Problem

• Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal broke Aug. 2001 - Boston • U.S. Bishops met in Dallas, July 2002 • Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People created • Article 12 requires “Safe Environments” programs to be implemented in all dioceses 8

National Review Board Reports Church Sex Abuse Crisis

• “Bishops and other Church leaders relied too heavily on psychiatrists, psychologists, and lawyers in dealing with a problem that, while it undoubtedly has psychological cause and legal implication is at its heart a problem of faith and morality.” (NRB Report, page 15) • 81% of the abuse cases involved boys age 11-17 years old (John Jay Study) • Financial costs: $1 billion and counting 9

History of the problem: Article 12

• Article 12 of the Charter reads: “Dioceses…are to maintain ‘safe environment’ programs which the…bishop deems to be in accord with Catholic moral principles. They are to be conducted cooperatively with parents, civil authorities, educators, and community organizations to provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, volunteers, and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people….” Source: http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/websafe.shtml

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3 Stage Implementation of the Charter

Stage 1: Archdiocesan Staff • VIRTUS: Comprehensive “Safe Touch/Safe Environments” program for training diocesan staff, clergy, administrators, teachers, and volunteers to prevent or recognize child sex abuse Stage 2: Parents • VIRTUS Parent Guide distributed to all parents in the archdiocese Stage 3: Children • VIRTUS Children’s curriculum will not be used 11

Origins of VIRTUS National Catholic Risk Retention Group

• VIRTUS: created 1998 by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group (NCRRG) • NCRRG insures 64 Arch/dioceses • “Our vision is to be leaders in pursuing solutions for financing and managing the liability risks of the Catholic Church through cooperative approaches. Our mission is to provide financially stable and cost effective excess liability programs to address the needs of Catholic dioceses and religious communities throughout the United States.” Source: http://www.nationalcatholic.org/ 12

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis “Protecting God’s Children” Initiative

Timeline • Early in 2005 Archdiocesan staff begins researching “safe environments” curricula without parental involvement • Summer/Fall 2005 VIRTUS training sessions begin for all archdiocesan staff and clergy • By Jan. ’06 - 11,000 Archdiocesan staff are trained in VIRTUS’ 3 hour program • December ‘05/Jan.-Feb. ‘06 Parents receive VIRTUS Parents Guide and asked for written acknowledgement of receipt • February 2006 Archdiocese announces the choice of “Talking About Touching” children’s curriculum for schools and parishes 13

Respecting Rights of Parents

• Chancery spent one year selecting curricula without parental involvement • Trained 11,000 Archdiocesan staff and clergy before most parents were even aware of “safe environments” or VIRTUS • Announced curricula in February 2006 • DREs, Priests may view curricula by appointment only at the chancery beginning March 9, 2006 • Parents may view curricula by appointment only at the chancery beginning April 1, 2006 • The chancery says parents are recognized as primary educators but in fact are the last to see the material and have no say other than to opt their children out of the program 14

“Safe Environments” Curricula

• Talking About Touching: pre-K to 4 th Gr.

• KidWISE Institute, Out of Harm’s Way: Personal Safety Curriculum: 5 th – 8 th Gr.

• St. Mary’s Press, Creating Safe and Sacred Spaces: 9 th 12 th Gr.

– • Alternative Program*: KidWISE Institute’s Family Safety

Fair

• * Pastors may request permission from Archbishop Flynn to use

programs found to be compliant with the standards of the USCCB.

15 Source: http://www.archspm.org/pcyi/index.htm

“Talking About Touching” (CFC)

Questionable Origins • • 1970’s Judicial Advocates for Women , formerly COYOTE, becomes Committee for Children (CFC) COYOTE - Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics was a prostitution-rights advocacy group • Margo St. James , Jennifer James study youth entry into prostitution • 1981 CFC develops “Talking About Touching” • Secular program used by 20,000 schools in N.A. and throughout the world Sources: www.cfchildren.org

; Mary Jo Anderson , and James Dobson’s Focus on The Family 16

“Talking About Touching” Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Pre-K – 4

th

Grade

• Catholic Schools: 4 lessons, each 30-40 minutes in length must be taught each year • Religious Ed: 2 lessons, each 30-40 minutes in length must be taught each year • Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is requiring certain lesson plans be taught 17

“Talking About Touching” Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Pre-K – 4 th Grade

• Each parish/school to purchase 2 kits minimum • TAT recommends that it’s most effective to teach “safe touch” within context of comprehensive “safe environments” program (40 Lessons approx.) • While we’re only teaching a few selected lesson plans, more plans may be taught should your site or teacher chose to do so.

• Each site will decide whether to use the words “private body parts” (swim suit area) or the proper names 18

“The Years of Innocence”

“ It can be said that a child is in the stage described in John Paul II’s words as ‘the years of innocence’ from about five years of age until puberty…This period of tranquility and serenity must never be disturbed by unnecessary information about sex.

…Parents will recognize that prudent formation in chaste love during this period should be indirect, in preparation for puberty, when direct information will be necessary” (Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality, 78).

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“Talking About Touching” Sample Lessons

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Talking About Touching

TAT Grade 1, Unit II, Lesson 9 21

Talking About Touching

TAT Grade 1, Unit II, Lesson 9 This is Alex. He was visiting his aunt and uncle. Alex and his uncle were watching television and eating popcorn. His uncle told Alex that he had a special game they could play. He called it "the touching game." He said, "Let's take off our clothes and touch each others private body parts.” Alex knew this game wasn't safe. So, in a strong voice he said, "No. I don't want to do that." Then he got off the couch and left the room. When he got home he told his mom and dad what had happened. Alex's parents were glad that he said “No" to his uncle. They were also glad that Alex told them what his uncle had asked him to do.

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Talking About Touching

TAT Grade 1, Unit II, Lesson 10 23

Talking About Touching

TAT Grade 1, Unit II, Lesson 10 Today we are going to learn about what happened to Rosa. Rosa's foster mom has a friend who sometimes takes care of Rosa when her foster mom works at night. He used to read her a story and then tuck her in to bed. Last week when he stayed with Rosa, he reached under her nightgown and tried to touch her private body parts. Rosa said "No," but he did it anyway. He told her that the touching was their little secret and that she shouldn't tell anyone.

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REQUIRED

Talking About Touching

TAT Grade 2, Unit II, Lesson 10

7-8 Year-olds Sacraments First Confession First Communion

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REQUIRED

TAT Grade 2 Lesson 10

• Story and Discussion: “This is Ian. He is worried because he has a problem and he’s trying to decide whether to tell someone about it. Last week, his mom’s boyfriend came to Ian’s room when Ian was getting ready for bed. He started to give Ian a hug and then he put his hand inside the back of Ian’s pajama bottoms. He warned Ian not to tell his mom about what happened. He said they should keep it a secret”.

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REQUIRED

Talking About Touching

TAT Grade 3, Unit II, Lesson 9

8-9 Year-olds

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REQUIRED

TAT Grade 3 Lesson 9

• Story and Discussion: • “This is Kerry. She is worried about something that happened to her last week when she spent the night with one of her friends. Her friend’s older brother came into the bedroom, put his hand under the covers of the bed Kerry was sleeping in, and touched her vagina (private parts). She said, ‘Stop that!’ in an assertive voice. He stopped, but then he told her to keep it a secret. Kerry is wondering what she should do.

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“Talking About Touching” Teacher’s Guide

Implementing The Program Classroom Guidelines Source: Committee for Children, “Talking About Touching” A Personal Safety Curriculum Grades 1-3, Third Edition Teacher’s Guide, p. 29 29

Concerns About TAT

• Places burden of a child’s safety on the child • Disturbs the “age of innocence” with intimate and deviant sexual scenarios • Sexualizes children before they’re ready for this material • Secular worldview • • Questionable origins: COYOTE Planned Parenthood Chapters and SIECUS recommend “Talking About Touching” 30

Planned Parenthood Sexuality and Safety?

What 5-7 Year-olds Should Know • Use correct terms for all sexual body parts, including the reproductive organs • Say “No” to unwanted touch • Take an active role in managing their body’s health and safety • Recognize and protect themselves from potential sexual abuse and its dangers • Their bodies belong to themselves • Touching their sex organs for pleasure is normal • Talk privately with trusted adults about sexual issues, questions, and concerns • Talk about all of their body parts without feeling “naughty” • Seek privacy when they want to touch their sex organs for pleasure 31 Source: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/medicalinfo/parenting/pub-children-sexuality.xml

Problems with TAT: SIECUS endorsement

• SIECUS States Sex Information and Education Council of the United founded in 1964 as the educational arm of the Dr. Alfred Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction • SIECUS – “has served as the national voice for sexuality education, sexual health, and sexual rights for over 40 years.” • SIECUS – very powerful and influential thought leaders and educators in promoting sexual rights, contraception, abortion, and homosexuality • SIECUS – “works to create a world that ensures social justice and sexual rights” Sources: www.SIECUS.org

; Focus on the Family 32

TAT: Premature Sex Information?

“In some societies today, there are planned and determined attempts to impose premature sex information on children. with moral responsibility But, at this stage of development, children…cannot understand and control sexual imagery within the proper context of moral principles and, for this reason, they cannot integrate premature sexual information …(cont’d) 33

Premature Sex Information

(continued) “Such information tends to shatter their emotional and educational development and to disturb the natural serenity of this period of life.

Parents should politely but firmly exclude any attempts to violate children’s innocence because such attempts compromise the spiritual, moral and emotional development of growing persons who have a right to their innocence” (TMHS, 83).

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Parents Must Propose More…

given “…the real difficulties that exist for young people…especially when social and moral deterioration is present, person …” (TMHS, 49).

parents are urged to dare to ask for more and to propose more. They cannot be satisfied with avoiding the worst…they will have to be committed to educating them in the true values of the 35

Guidelines for Parents to Protect their Children

“Parents must protect their children, first by teaching them a form of modesty and reserve with regard to strangers, as well as by giving suitable sexual information, frighten them” (TMHS, 85).

but without going into details and particulars that might upset or 36

Is there an alternative?

What are our options?

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THE GOOD NEWS

• Archbishop Flynn has given pastors the option to petition for an alternative to TAT that meets the requirements of Article 12 of the Charter • An excellent alternative program is called “Formation in Christian Chastity,” Diocese of Harrisburg, PA • Note: Parents may also opt their children out of any curriculum 38

Formation in Christian Chastity

• Diocese of Harrisburg, PA has developed a program based upon the wisdom of The Truth

and Meaning of Human Sexuality

• FICC complies with Article 12 of the Charter • Auditors have approved FICC • Archbishop Flynn has approved FICC 39

Formation in Christian Chastity and “Safe Environments”

• Dioceses of Harrisburg (PA), Arlington (VA) and La Crosse (WI) curriculum for children • Provides Catholic context for ‘safety’ lessons; complies with Article 12 • Emphasizes chastity, vocation, the sacraments, and the need for prayer • Models proper behavior through stories of saints and other holy people • Primarily a home based program where parents collaborate with teachers 40

“Formation in Christian Chastity” and “Safe Environments”

A Two-Part Program “Formation in Christian Chastity” (FICC) • FICC: Grades 1 – 4 taught at home by parents • FICC: Grades 5 -8 includes home component and 2 classroom lessons each year “Safe Environments” • Parent component sent home Grades 1, 5, and 9 • One Classroom lesson each year for Grades 1, 5, and 9 41

Formation in Christian Chastity: Parents Letter

Home Instruction “This program is based on the premise that parents know their children, where they are in their own personal development, and can best judge when their child is ready for specific lessons or information. The natural innocence of young children may be protected in this way.” During the first four grades, parents will be the teachers.

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Formation in Christian Chastity 2

nd

Grade Home Instruction

Taught by Parents • Letter to Parents with instructions • Discusses “Why Chastity?” • Explains how program will work • What parents can teach 2 rd graders: – Theme: the human person is a child of God – Teaching the gift of the Lord to us in the sacramental life; how we show reverence to these gifts of God by caring for the body we’ve been given – Several teaching points follow 43

Formation in Christian Chastity 2

rd

Grade Home Instruction

Taught by Parents God made us in His image • God gave us the gift of free will to choose what is good • When we choose to disobey God’s will, then we sin • Grace is a special gift that God gives people to share in His life and love • Grace helps us to do what God wants us to do • Teaching Example: parent explains that we are created in the image of God and are to live as a child of God… 44

FICC “Safe Environments” Lesson

1 st Grade taught at school • When someone touches you and you feel it is not good touch, or it hurts, you should tell that person, whether they are another child or an adult, to STOP. It is O.K. to even to tell a big person "No" when you feel scared.

• Always tell someone, like your mommy, daddy, teacher, or grandparents right away when you feel scared and not safe. 45

FICC “Safe Environments” Lesson

1 st Grade taught at school Conclusion: God loves you very much and wants you to feel safe and happy. He gave us our parents, teachers, and friends to help us be safe and secure when we are at home, school, playground, and Church.

Remember to follow the rules if your feel sad, scared and not safe. God is our Creator and he made everything good. God gave us our guardian angel to love and protect us and keep us from harm. 46

FICC “Safe Environments” Lesson

5th Grade taught at school Have a Safety Plan: • Always be with a group when outdoors • Be aware of your surroundings • Never hitchhike • Use well lit streets, walkways, and playgrounds • Do not use shortcuts • Carry identification with you • When home alone, be sure you have emergency phone numbers and a phone number of a neighbor or a nearby friend • Never answer the door unless you know the person 47

FICC “Safe Environments” Lesson

Conclusion: 5th Grade taught at school “Jesus is the Truth and He wants us to know and follow Him. We can also know the truth about what is good and right through reason. Jesus wants us to be happy and safe and he gave us the gifts and tools to make good choices and have a plan in case of danger. Always travel with a buddy, and be sure you have a plan in case you become scared or feel unsafe.” 48

Formation in Christian Chastity The Benefits

• Catholic and virtue-based • Preserves the innocence of children • Honors the role of parents as primary educators • Complies with Article 12 of the Charter • Approved by Archbishop Flynn and the USCCB • Easy to acquire – just download the program • Simple to implement • It’s free 49

Courses of Action

• Your parish and school will implement TAT unless your pastor petitions Archbishop Flynn in writing requesting his approval to use an alternative program such as “Formation in Christian Chastity.” • Your pastor will need your help: what can you do?

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Courses of Action

• Educate yourself on “safe environments” curricula • READ The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality.

• Share this information charitably with as many fellow parents, friends, parish and school board leaders and religious education staff as you can • Discuss this with your pastor – Pastor Packs available • Pray for the protection of the innocence of all children • Pray for Archbishop Flynn and all priests 51

Thank you for your time and consideration Closing Prayer Q&A

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For More Information

• As parents, we place our work under the protection of St. Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer.

• Email us at [email protected]

• Visit our blog at http://altorfamiliarum002.blogspot.com/ • See our new website at www.primaryeducators.org

• God bless you and your families.

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