Safe Environment Lessons Being Taught in Parish Religious Education Programs
 

The Diocese of Scranton is introducing safe environment lessons in its parish Religious Education programs this fall. The lessons are designed by the VIRTUS Teaching Touching Safety Program to help educate children and young people about how to recognize and prevent sexual abuse.

Since the spring of 2005, this program has been used in Diocesan Catholic schools. It will now be added to the religious education program to complement the safe environment programs used by public schools as required by the state Department of Education.

VIRTUS has designed six lessons to be taught in Catholic schools and in parish Religious Education programs over a period of three years. The catechists in the Religious Education programs will be teaching the first two lessons in the fall semester. Two lessons have been condensed into one so that they can be taught in one religious education class.

Gail Fromm, Diocesan compliance officer, will introduce each director of religious education (DRE) or parish coordinator to the program to ensure its success. Upon completion of the lesson, a report will be made to Sarah Mountain, Diocesan VIRTUS coordinator.

The Catholic Church affirms that parents are the first educators of their children and parental involvement is critical to the success of this program. Before any lessons can be taught in the religious education class, parents will receive a letter from the pastor and DRE explaining the program and including an Opt-Out form. In addition, parents will be given a VIRTUS publication entitled: Protecting God’s Children/Teaching Touching Safety: A Guide for Parents, Guardians, and Other Caring Adults. Parents who decide that they do not want their child to participate in the program will be given the lesson to complete at home.

The lessons have been geared to four different grade levels: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. They will be taught over the next three years:

Fall 2008 – Lesson 1 for Religious Education:

                   1. Touching Safety Rules

                   2. Safe Friends, Safe Adults, and Safe Touches

Fall 2009 – Lesson 2 for Religious Education:

                   1. Boundaries

                   2. Telling Someone You Trust

Fall 2010 – Lesson 3 for Religious Education:

                    1. Grooming

                   2. “No Secrets”

Descriptions of the lessons have been posted on the Diocesan website. Go to www.dioceseofscranton.org and then click the “Virtus” link on the green bar on the left of the homepage.