Report from the Bishop

My Dear Friends in Christ,

In accordance with the Charter to Protect Children and Young People parish and school leaders as well as educators have been trained to deliver a series of intensive safety sessions to the children in our Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

Our efforts in educating children about safety issues expands the preparation of our school age children themselves and help to create a safer environment - for everyone's peace of mind. What seems very clear to me in everything we do and every new effort we put in place, is that our heartfelt goal and motive is the care, physical safety and spiritual well-being of our children and young people. This is a commitment we all share. Securing this with God's help makes every effort worthwhile.

I am thankful to the Diocesan Coordinator for Safe Environment, Mrs. Mary Frances Horton, for heading up this effort. Together with our Vicar General, Monsignor Robert Murphy, Mary Fran chaired a commission of educators and child specialists, who were also parents in the diocese, to carefully study and evaluate available "safe environment" resources and select program elements that could be aligned with our religion curriculum guidelines and which would emphasize the sanctity of human life.

The group worked over the course of three months with a strong sense of mission to choose programs that they felt would best support and include parents in educating their children and keeping them safe.

Indeed, we speak about a "safe environment" more than a "program," and I am thankful that the measures begun under Bishop Boland and continuing today will keep raising the attention of us all to this need for vigilance, safety and respect.

Our children depend on us for many things, not the least of which is a secure place for them to learn, play, and grow. I am thankful to you all who have helped us provide for the fulfillment of our stated responsibilities in this regard. But more than any requirement of law, we share a fundamental commitment to assure our young people's well-being and protection.

Parents have the first and most important role in teaching their children about the beauty and integrity of their bodies and personhood. It is the role and mission of the Church - in the parish and in the school - to do everything appropriate to support the parents in this fundamental goal. Our programs for the protection of children, including these newest elements, will depend on and respect this cooperation between parents and the school.

I am very thankful to all those who have given so much of their time and study to prepare for the implementation of the safe environment programs in our Catholic Schools and Parish Schools of Religion.

I entrust the delivery of safe environment programs in a special way to our Blessed Mother, who herself guided the human growth and learning of our Lord in what the late Pope Paul VI once called "the School of Nazareth." May St. Joseph, guardian of the Redeemer and head of the Holy Family, assist us in the safety and protection of our children and youth.

      Most Reverend Robert W. Finn
      Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph