Adults have tremendous power when it comes to protecting children. Of course, we have surely heard of cases where adults have lifted vehicles to protect children or seemed to have inhuman speed to move children out of the path of a disaster. But then there are the less obvious superhero qualities... For example, when adults work together as a community, studies show that we have the superpower of being able to collectively prevent abuse from happening in the first place. But our superpowers shine more brilliantly when we recognize that we individually have great power in positively influencing a child's ability to disclose abuse. This gives us opportunities to stop abuse and influence a child's rate and pace of healing and resilience. What we do as safe adults can actually change the trajectory of a child's wellbeing over their entire lifetime.
We, the participants of the
Conference on Safeguarding
in the Catholic Church in
Europe, held in Rome from 13-15
November 2024, come together
with a shared commitment to
enhance the protection and
safety of all individuals within
our communities – especially
children and vulnerable adults.
Recognizing the diverse cultural
contexts across Europe,
we emphasize the importance
of fostering a common language
of safeguarding that respects
these differences and of working
collaboratively to eliminate
the many forms of abuse
through institutional and
community conversion.
Drawing on Roman Catholic and ecumenical expertise, this article takes an honest look at
the experiences and hopes of those abused. Many in the churches assume that victims seek
financial compensation or legal redress. However, research indicates that many victims
primarily seek truth and justice as a means of closure and that their struggles with church
leadership arise when truth and justice are repeatedly withheld. This makes forgiveness
near-impossible and often results in the victim being re-traumatized by the systemic
re-abuse they experience. Ultimately, there is no substitute for full and genuine meeting
with victims, which requires the church to lay aside its power and authority and engage
with humility and proper deference to the victims abused at the hands of the church.
Without such openness, the victims cannot move on, and neither can the churches.
[EIM] Hosted by the Department of Family & Protective Services | Join us for an important webinar on preventing child vehicular heatstroke, a leading cause of accidental child deaths in Texas. With high temperatures year-round, even a few minutes in a hot car can be dangerous for young children. This session will provide essential information on the risks, prevention strategies, and steps caregivers, parents, and communities can take to protect children.
[EIM] In recognition of National Trauma Survivor's Day, guest speaker Nicholas Ruchlewicz will share his personal journey through post-traumatic growth. His presentation will include discussion of visible and invisible scars, CBT and asking the tough questions of ourselves, and regaining control by choosing our responses.
[EIM] Addressing the Human Aspect of Crisis: Psychological first aid is a simple, yet powerful way of helping someone in distress. It is a form of helping that involves paying attention to the person’s reactions, active listening and if relevant, practical assistance to help address immediate problems and basic needs. Learning PFA skills and understanding reactions to crises empowers the helper not only to help others, but also to apply the same skills to their own crises.