ARTICLES

Prevention of sexual abuse is goal of VIRTUS

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

Kathy Jones, a facilitator with the diocese’s Safe Environment for Children program, feels it is most important that everyone involved in parish ministry or who works with Catholic schools learns something new when they attend the VIRTUS workshops which seek to make everyone aware of how to prevent sexual abuse of minors.

The workshops, which are mandatory for anyone who is a staff member or volunteer in programs of the diocese including other Catholic institutions, first show a video which features both child victims of past sexual abuse as well as those who are advocates for a safe environment.

“Everyone is looking at it through the same lens,” Mrs. Jones, a member of St. Augustine parish in Richmond, said.

“We want to help people be aware of some of the things to look for,” she continued.

“In the past, we’ve left everything up to the kid who has been victimized. The damage has already been done.

“With this program we have the opportunity to look at prevention. We know what the warning signs are.”

Someone who might send out warning signs would be an adult who always prefers to be in the company of children rather than other adults and who discourages other adults from joining him or her when alone with children.

Other improper behavior which would send a warning is an adult who tells inappropriate jokes to children or has an interest in pornography.

“It’s the person’s behavior that gives you the warning signs,” Mrs. Jones said.

A person who might raise questions is someone who is rigid about enforcing rules and regulations among others, “but doesn’t feel they apply to him,” she said.

“Sexual abuse affects so many layers of people,” Mrs. Jones asserted.

“First, there is the child, then there’s the child’s family and the people of the church of school.

“It can be devastating to everyone who becomes aware of it.”

Mrs. Jones got involved in the diocesan VIRTUS program when Msgr. Michael Schmied, her pastor, asked if she would be willing to be trained as a facilitator.

She works for the 11th Court Service Unit of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, a position which puts her in touch with children and their parents.

“We work with kids primarily under the age of 18 who have been charged with criminal offenses like robbery, drugs and assault,” Mrs. Jones explained.

“We also work with kids who are runaways or truants from school.”

She estimates she has facilitated about 30 workshops, most of which have been held in the Richmond area from Petersburg to Ashland.

Not all who came to the mandatory workshops came willingly, she admits.

“What’s interesting is that at the beginning, many felt the laity were bearing the brunt for the priests’ abuse scandals,” Mrs. Jones said.

“But now the word has spread that the information is valuable and helpful in their ministries as well as their personal life.”

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