Update: The Catholic School Parents’ web site is not here.
Over Easter dinner, my brother told me about a disturbing program being implemented in the Archdiocese of Boston. A few months ago I asked on the blog if anyone had any information about a grade-school curriculum called “Talking about Touching.” The reason I asked is because the archdiocese has decided that every child, as young as five, enrolled in either a parochial school or sacramental preparation must go through this program. There is no opting out. Get ready, because what I’m about to tell you is going to be shocking.
The program is put in place as a reaction to the Scandal, but its primary aim is not to protect children. It’s to protect the archdiocese. And they’re not shy about telling you this.
(By the way, all this information I’m about to tell you is available on a web site set up for Catholic parents whose kids are going to be exposed to this in their Catholic schools. It’s called Shared Concerns of School Parents. There is a downloadable PDF or Powerpoint version and an HTML format presentation on the site with all kinds of information.)
First, this is not a Boston problem. The National Catholic Education Association and other Catholic school groups have said they’re going to be using “Talking about Touching” around the country and other diocese are checking it out. It was recommended to the US bishops by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group. This is their mission statement:
Our vision is to be leaders in pursuing solutions for financing and managing the liability risks of the Catholic Church through cooperative approaches. Our mission is to provide financially stable and cost-effective excess liability programs to address the needs of Catholic dioceses and religious communities throughout the United States.
That’s right. They’re goal is not protecting children. It’s not ensuring that the Gospel and Gospel values are passed on. It goal is protecting bishops and the financial assets of dioceses.
So why is it so objectionable? What are they teachings kids?
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