{"id":3427,"date":"2015-06-15T18:30:52","date_gmt":"2015-06-15T23:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/jenniferfitz\/?p=3427"},"modified":"2015-06-15T18:30:52","modified_gmt":"2015-06-15T23:30:52","slug":"how-to-idiot-proof-your-parish-and-diocese-against-the-sexual-abuse-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/jenniferfitz\/2015\/06\/how-to-idiot-proof-your-parish-and-diocese-against-the-sexual-abuse-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Idiot Proof Your Parish and Diocese Against the Sexual Abuse Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

The idiots in question are ordinary people like yourself, busy, overwhelmed with responsibilities, always trying to figure out which situations are the most desperate and which are okay enough to leave be for the moment. \u00a0 Elizabeth Scalia and others <\/a>report on the latest round of resigning bishops, and here\u2019s the thing you need to understand: That diocese is just like yours, and by that I mean it is filled with people like you.<\/p>\n

\u2013> In the unlikely event that you\u2019re one of those people who has it completely together, and never ever makes a bad judgment call, never ever drops the ball, never ever says, \u201cBut I didn\u2019t think that would happen!\u201d believe you me, the rest of the slouches in your parish, ministry, or organization are complete idiots. \u00a0That\u2019s just how it is. \u00a0What this means is that in order to keep our children safe from sexual abuse, we have to idiot-proof our work.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, it\u2019s doable. \u00a0Here are the basics:<\/p>\n

1. Learn to dial 911.<\/h2>\n

In reading the harrowing account of how a serial abuser was left in office for years<\/a>, one fact stands out: Bunches of people knew the abuse was going on, and not a single one called the police. \u00a0Not one.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need permission to pick up the telephone.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter what your boss says. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t matter what your job description is, or that you haven\u2019t got one. \u00a0The police are so easy to contact even a kindergartner can do it, and that means you can, too. \u00a0If you suspect a crime is taking place, pick up the phone and call the police<\/strong>.<\/a> \u00a0You can talk to the competent church authorities after.<\/p>\n

To put your mind at ease:<\/p>\n