Proactive vigilance in protecting children

The indictment of Bishop Robert Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, for alleged failure to report a priest’s apparent involvement with child pornography, is beyond distressing. While we should scrupulously avoid rushing to judgment — an indictment is an accusation, not a conviction, and Bishop Finn maintains his innocence — we are horrified at the apparent victimization of children, and deeply troubled by even the allegation that a bishop and diocese failed to respond with the requisite urgency.   

What is called for on our part now is prayer — first and foremost, for any children who have been unconscionably abused, and for their families; for Bishop Finn; for the accused priest; and for the Church and all those throughout that diocese who have been wounded by this terrible situation, whatever its ultimate outcome.  

This tragedy underscores how critically important are the tremendous strides and unceasing efforts that the Church on Long Island has undertaken, under Bishop Murphy’s leadership, to safeguard children and to respond swiftly and forthrightly to any and all allegations of abuse.

Every such allegation is promptly reported to civil authorities and the alleged offender is removed from service — without any premature presumption of guilt or innocence — in order to err on the side of protecting children while the allegation is being thoroughly investigated.  

Moreover, the Diocese of Rockville Centre has put in place a detailed child protection plan, spearheaded by the Virtus program (see story page 9) that involves everyone who ministers in the Church in any way, in efforts to protect children, and gives us all the vital training necessary to do so.

As the events unfolding in Kansas City remind us, we must be ever vigilant; evil, and temptation to evil, are a part of human existence, and all of us must continuously do everything within our power to protect the innocent — especially God’s most precious beings, children created in His image.

Thankfully, our diocese has taken the lead in meeting this urgent responsibility. In so doing, the Church on Long Island — knowing that, no matter how effective our efforts, we can never let down our guard — offers a model of proactive vigilance that we all — individuals and institutions — might well emulate.