NCJ Number
154866
Journal
Word and Way Volume: 132 Issue: 8 Dated: (February 23, 1995) Pages: 4-5
Date Published
1995
Length
2 pages
Annotation
These three articles examine the sexual abuse of children, adolescents, and adults by church personnel, often in a church setting. The author describes ways to recognize sexual abuse, especially of children, and measures that organizations can take to prevent sexual abuse of persons in their charge.
Abstract
Churches are especially vulnerable to the problem of child sexual abuse because: (1) Churches are institutions of trust; (2) Churches provide ample opportunities for contact with children; and (3) Most pedophiles have begun to be pushed out of other organizations by newly adopted employment and volunteer regulations designed to curb the problem and have moved toward the church. The author quotes Richard Hammar's four major areas in which policies and procedures must be established to provide safeguards against child sexual abuse: (1) worker selection, with a screening process that includes interviews, reference checks, and perhaps even a criminal records check; (2) worker supervision, possibly a two-adult rule for any church activity involving children or youth; (3) reporting obligations, a line of reporting to be followed in every case of suspected abuse; and (4) response to allegations, which involves, among other things, knowing the state rules regarding reporting abuse to the proper authorities. There is a discussion of procedures that Second Church, Springfield, MO, follows in its hiring procedures for potential children's workers.