ROME
Zenit
By Ann Schneible
ROME, FEB. 13, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Last week’s conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Toward Healing and Renewal, confronted the crisis of clerical pedophilia with the objective of finding solutions whereby all future cases of child sex abuse would be prevented.
Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, associate dean for seminary and ministerial studies and a licensed psychologist, spoke with ZENIT last week during the conference about the concrete steps being taken to address the crisis, and offered some insights into the psychology of pedophilia.
Part 2 of this interview will be published Tuesday.
ZENIT: What is the most important thing that needs to be communicated by the media regarding the sexual abuse of minors?
Monsignor Rossetti: I think the biggest thing, I’d say, is that it’s a terrible problem, but prevention does work. We’ve been involved in a much stronger prevention program in the States for a number of years, and the abuse cases are dropping, the number of cases are dropping significantly. Prevention does work, and I think that’s important for people to realize. The most important thing about abuse is to stop it before it happens. And so, I’m just strongly encouraging people to start with these child safety programs and implement them.
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