Your gift counts double until 5/31: $20,973 to go in our Easter Campaign. Please help now!
 Off the Record

protecting children and young people-- from their parents

By Diogenes (articles ) | November 03, 2009 12:45 PM

The London Daily Mail tells us that parents in Watford Council are outraged, because they've been told they can't accompany their children to the local playground until they pass a criminal-background check. This remarkable security policy was adopted to protect children from pedophiles.

Outrageous, you say? Yes, it is. But let's keep things in perspective. The Watford Council is now fully in line with the Dallas Charter, which requires fingerprinting and background checks for parents who volunteer to teach their children's CCD classes. 

The US bishops are-- as they frequently remind us-- on the cutting edge of efforts to protect children. We'll all feel safer when the dangerous people are kept behind fences. 

 

An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus:

Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach five million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you!

Easter Campaign:
Progress toward our Spring 2013 goal ($20,973 to go):
$80,000.00 $59,027.50
26% 74%
Sound Off! CatholicCulture.org supporters weigh in.

All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

Show 4 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments
  • Posted by: Gaby - Nov. 04, 2009 2:54 PM ET USA

    I can understand the sign in the SF park - SF is full of gays, druggies, winos, etc. They weren't requiring police background clearance. The Dallas charter assumes that keeping known, convicted sex offenders away from kids will solve the problem. But we know for a fact that bishops put KNOWN sex offenders in contact with kids. Does the Dallas charter allow them to keep doing so? Does the absence of a criminal record get them off the hook?!?

  • Posted by: Judas - Nov. 03, 2009 7:23 PM ET USA

    Several years ago, my wife and 4 yr. old son went to San Fran for a meeting. We tried to take him to a city park but were stopped by the sign:"No adults unless accompanied by a child". It's already happening here!

  • Posted by: Gil125 - Nov. 03, 2009 2:37 PM ET USA

    ...Just as the Dallas Charter requires fingerprinting and background checks of all parish personnel, including janitors and secretaries, because we all know how many janitors and secretaries abused little boys.

  • Posted by: sparch - Nov. 03, 2009 1:40 PM ET USA

    I was going to say that I have to do nothing less when coaching my son's basketball team in the Catholic Youth Organization. Welcome to our "not so brave new world".

Think with the Catholic Leaders: Subscribe to Catholic Culture Insights Newsletter
Donate to Support this Site: Your contribution will be put to good work.
Tour the CatholicCulture.org Site
Shop Amazon to Raise Money for Catholic Culture

Recent Catholic Commentary

Revealing News, and Revealing Christ 6 hours ago
The Russell Ford problem 6 hours ago
Fr. Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly: Your Letter May Help 13 hours ago
The Rise and Fall of the (American?) Church May 23
The Ideal of Pope Francis: the Servant Church May 23

Top Catholic News

Most Important Stories of the Last 30 Days
Pope strongly supports call for reform in religious life CWN - May 8