BishopAccountability.org

Archbishop launches ‘Updating the faithful’ series

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific News Center
April 3, 2017

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/04/03/archbishop-launches-updating-faithful-series/99963106/

Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes launches his monthly "Updating the faithful" series on Monday, April 3, 2017, while members of the Task Force for the Protection of Minors look on.
Photo by Haidee V Eugenio

Archbishop Michael Byrnes on Monday held the first of his "Updating the Faithful" monthly briefings, starting with updates on sexual abuse prevention and response training at Catholic schools and parishes.

Byrnes launched his series, which will be held every first week of the month, to update the faithful about the archdiocese’s issues, initiatives and efforts, he said.

To date, 14 archdiocesan schools and four parishes have received training from the Task Force for the Protection of Minors, said chairwoman Sarah Thomas-Nededog, a longtime social work professional. The task force was formed last year by temporary Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai.

“But I really believe that we’ve come a long way in rebuilding our integrity and our credibility in our church and I think we’re much more educated and equipped to protect our children and our vulnerable residents from any type of abuse in the future,” Thomas-Nededog said at the press conference, held at the chancery.

The Archdiocese of Agana, which faces dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits from former altar boys, on Monday asked the federal court for more time to respond to them.

The archdiocese, through attorney John C. Terlaje, and attorney David Lujan,who represents 34 of the 40 clergy sex abuse lawsuits filed so far against the archdiocese, signed a joint stipulation, agreeing to extend the deadline for the church response from April 10 to May 12.

Byrnes and Terlaje, during separate interviews, said the growing number of clergy sex abuse lawsuits and the fact the Boy Scouts of America also is being sued are among the reasons to ask for an extension.

The task force’s main responsibility, according to the archdiocese, is to educate adults entrusted with the care of minors about mandatory reporting requirements regarding sexual abuse, the importance of safe boundaries and other information that would help the church strengthen its efforts to safeguard children.

Besides the preventive and awareness training, the archdiocese has also been offering prayers, statements of apology, and counseling to clergy sexual abuse survivors. It has also set up an initial $1 million survivor aid fund.

‘We’ve come a long way’

Ruth Taimanglo, a representative from San Isidro Catholic Church in Malojloj, said Guam has come a long way in paying more attention to signs of child sexual abuse, and going from being reactive to now being proactive and more protective of young people.

Based on some of the clergy sex abuse lawsuits, former altar boys said their parents, grandparents or priests did not believe them when they told those adults decades ago about being abused. Educators and volunteers said for the most part, this is no longer the case.

Vince Pereda, a longtime licensed mental health counselor and a task force member, said among the warning signs is a significant change in a child’s behavior.

For example, they start to become depressed or sad, or their overall demeanor and interaction with peers and adults changes.

Monday’s archdiocesan press conference featured at least eight Catholic school educators, parishioners and task force members who shared their experiences in giving or receiving the training at school and parish levels to address or prevent child sexual abuse.

The launch also coincided with the observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

Contact: heugenio@guampdn.com




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