CATHOLIC CHILDREN ARE AT RISK
Background: The clergy sex abuse scandal became a nationally known story in 2001. Over 81% of the abuse was inflicted by homosexuals in the priesthood. Source:www.archspm.org/Data/exec_summary.pdf (John Jay Report)
As a result of the clergy abuse scandal, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) promulgated the document “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” in 2002. There is no mention in this document about removing homosexuals from the priesthood. This document has 17 articles, each directing a separate action. Article 12 of this document directs that “safe environment” training be given to children. Source:http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/charter.shtml
As a result of the direction of the charter, The Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul instituted “The Protection of Children and Youth Initiative”. The initiative has two components: one is training for clergy, teachers, volunteers and others who work with children. The other is “safe environment” lessons for children in Catholic schools and religious education programs. That means ALL students whether in a Catholic school, or a CCD program will have to take these classes unless their parents opt out.
The program used to “train” adults is called VIRTUS. For the children, the archdiocese has recommended the following programs:
- Preschool - 4th Grade: “Talking about Touching” curriculum, (TAT).
- 5th - 8th Grade: KidWISE Institute Inc.’s “Out of Harm’s Way: Personal Safety Curriculum”.
- 9th - 12th Grade: St. Mary’s Press’ “Creating Safe and Sacred Spaces.” Source:http://www.archspm.org/pcyi/
Some notes about the “Talking About Touching” (TAT) program:
- The TAT program was developed by an organization called the “Committee For Children”, which was formerly known as “Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics” (COYOTE), a pro-prostitution advocacy group.
- The TAT program is recommended by the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), a pro-abortion lobby group which was founded by the Alfred Kinsey Institute. Alfred Kinsey was an infamous homosexual/pornographer who masqueraded as a researcher.
- TAT lessons involve reading graphic descriptions of deviant sexual assaults on children. These explicit descriptions are to be read to children preschool through 4th grade.
- The TAT program assumes children can protect themselves from sexual predators. In fact, TAT places the burden of preventing abuse on the children.
- The TAT program asks parents to teach anatomically correct body part names to pre-school children.
- The TAT program, by raising sexual issues, is really sex-education by another name for children starting at 3 years of age.
- The TAT program directly violates Church teaching by giving “unnecessary information about sex”. See “Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality” par 78, and Familiaris Consortio.
- The TAT program also violates Church teaching by having the above deviant behavior introduced by teachers in the classroom.
- The TAT program sexualizes little children before they are ready for it.
- The TAT program is basically identical to the program recommended by Planned Parenthood!
- The TAT program will cost the average parish over $500.00.
We have no knowledge at this time about the programs for the 5th – 8th Grade (KidWISE) or the 9th-12th Grade (St. Mary’s Press).
MUST THESE PROGRAMS BE USED?
NO!
Archbishop Harry Flynn has allowed pastors to use other programs if they request to do so.
Another curriculum which is allowed is the “Formation in Christian Chastity” (FICC). This program was developed by the diocese of Harrisburg PA.
Some notes about Formation in Christian Chastity (FICC).
- The FICC program preserves the innocence of children. It does not introduce deviant sexual material to children.
- The FICC is based on the moral principles of Catholicism.
- The FICC program honors the role of parents as primary educators. The grade 1-5 material concerning touching is done at home at the parents’ discretion.
- The FICC program complies with article 12 of the USCCB “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”.
- The FICC program is simple to implement. It covers all grades 1-12.
- The FICC program is absolutely free. It is available on the internet at www.primaryeducators.org/FICC_Curriculum.pdf
- The FICC program has been approved for use by Archbishop Flynn.
So why would a parish use the terrible program “Talking About Touching” instead of the “Formation in Christian Chastity”?
Each individual pastor must request an exemption in writing to the Archbishop to use FICC instead of TAT.
If your pastor does not request an exception, your parish will use the TAT program!
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Educate yourself by reading: “The Truth And Meaning of Human Sexuality” issued by the Pontifical Council for the Family in 1995.
- Familiarize yourself with the Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio of Pope John Paul II dated 1981 available at www.vatican.va
- Share this information with your friends, family and fellow parishioners.
- Speak to your pastor, ask him to use the FICC program instead of those recommended by the archdiocese.
- Pray that the innocence of children will be protected.
- Pray that all pastors will have the strength to reject shocking, inappropriate, vulgar, damaging, and unnecessary sex-ed classes.
- Look for more information at
www.primaryeducators.org
www.catholicparents.org
THIS IS VITAL
Parents have the absolute right to opt out of ALL of this training. You do not have to let your children attend ANY of these classes, regardless of which program your parish uses!
“ the mission of education must always be carried out in accordance with a proper application of the principle of subsidiarity. “The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality”
Subsidiarity can be described as the principle which states that matters ought to be handled by the smallest (or, the lowest) competent authority. It has its origin in Catholic social teachings (see below).
“…it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do”.
Quadragesimo Anno"A community of a higher order should not interfere with the life of a community of a lower order, taking over its functions."
Centesimus Annus
A Final Note
The “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” promulgated by the US Catholic Bishops Conference also directs, in article 17, that background checks must be made on all those who have access to children. That category includes teachers and volunteer religious educators.
THAT MEANS: In response to the abuse crisis, which was caused by homosexuals in the priesthood, the Catholic bishops in this country, instead of trying to remove the homosexuals in the priesthood, are directing that little children be given classes, and background checks be run on religious education teachers.
???!!!??!!??!!A suspicious person might think that our American bishops are just trying to shift the focus away from their own negligence, and on to whomever they can hand it to.
Published by The Minnesota St. Thomas More Chapter of Catholics United for the Faith, April 2006.