I have to gripe a bit about some of the “Protect Our Children” regulations that go on in many of the diocese’s in the Unites States. In the Diocese of Colorado Springs, an independent auditor found that the diocese was in compliance with the Bishops’ protection charter. Yay! Good for the diocese.
The diocese conducts a criminal background investigation (CBI) on anyone who has “high-risk contact” with children and youth, and each undergoes the two-hour safe environment training
Just to be on the safe side, priests are making sure that anyone who has contact with children goes through the training. I participate in the Gregorian Chant choir at my local parish. Therefore, I had to fill out a form, submit it to the diocese, and schedule a time to view the two-hour video. This was all because my own daughters were going to sing in the choir also.
The video itself is some touchy-feely, corporate Human Resources malarky that focuses on incidents of scandalized children. I learned nothing from the film and was increasingly frustrated by the tenor that parents were not as vigilant as they should be. Any mention of the Scandals having to do with amoral homosexual priests was quickly dismissed by the Facilitators.
Until the Bishops figure out what the real problems are, we volunteers are going to be subject to increased bureaucracy.
The Gavin Group was awarded the audit contract because of its qualifications; more than 90 percent of the auditors trained for the bishops’ charter audit are former FBI agents.
For how much money is the Gavin Group shearing the USCCB? There is always money involved. Even within the Church Herself, my money goes to that which I do not approve.
James