Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

As we continue to discuss the uncomfortable subject of sexual abuse, not just by clergy members but within our society as a whole, I wanted to provide you with some information that will assist you in what you should do if you suspect abuse is or has taken place.  The information provided is helpful in all areas of your child’s life or in the lives of all children wherever they may be.  These are questions that parents often ask or have regarding this topic.  The Diocese of Lafayette is committed to protecting your children from any and all forms of sexual abuse.

What should I do if I suspect my child has been abused? 

Call the police or social services department in your community. Reassure your child that he/she did nothing wrong and that he/she did the right thing by telling you. You may want to find a child counselor experienced in child abuse matters. Call the victim assistance person in your diocese.

My child came home and told about being shown pornography. What should I do? 

Call the police. There is no good reason for an adult to share pornography with children. Assure your child that they are not in trouble, that they did the right thing by telling you. If necessary, help them process the experience by talking about your feelings toward pornography and why it is wrong. If the child was shown pornography at school, let school officials know about it as well. Call the victim assistance person in your diocese.

I get the ‘creeps’ from one of the volunteers at Church. He always has his hands on kids in one way or another. What should I do? 

Listen to your ‘gut.’ Offenders give warning signs that knowledgeable adults can use; your ‘gut’ often picks them up. You are not accusing someone of abuse you are communicating your concern about inappropriate behavior. Let the diocesan/eparchial victim assistance or safe environment coordinator know of your concerns. Let the supervisor of the program know of them as well. Keep reporting your concerns until someone hears you. Your courage to report those types of incidents may be very helpful. Reporting can let the person know their behavior is unacceptable, and it lets them know they are being watched. If it is poor judgment, this gives the person the opportunity to change the behavior.

We will continue this information in next week’s bulletin.

Blessings,

Fr. David