Report: Big Country Catholics Protecting Kids
By: Austin Kellerman
Updated: March 16, 2009
The Diocese of San Angelo has been given high marks for efforts to protect children and young people from sexual abuse, according to a news released from the diocese. Results of the 2008 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People are back and virtually all U.S. dioceses and eparchies are compliant with the 17-point Charter, which was adopted by the U.S. bishops in 2002. The San Angelo Diocese was in compliance.
According to the news release, "the Most Rev. Michael Pfeifer, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo, is very happy to share with the people of West Texas the good news of all the efforts that the Catholic Church is making to provide protection for children and young people. "
Dioceses spent more than $23 million nationwide in 2008 to prevent child sexual abuse, an increase of $2 million from 2007.
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that the bishops hope that with child abuse protection activities, “new ways are being found to improve not only the safety of children in the care of the Church, but also the safety of all children in society.”
