Consider another Virtus bulletin: “Before You Send a Young Person a ‘Friend Request.’” While responsible parents and educators continue to find ways to reach out to young people, it has become apparent that we all need to follow new guidelines. This bulletin suggests we apply to social networking the same principle promoted for physical touching: PAN, an acronym for Public, Appropriate, and Non-sexual. (See Virtus bulletin archive search, “Touch (A Sensitive Subject)”)

Consider another vulnerable group, vulnerable adults. We have all seen stories in Florida of investigations over the last year which have prompted an outcry for legislative change regarding assisted living facilities. (None of the facilities investigated were Catholic facilities.) Virtus bulletins have addressed this issue in a four-part series titled, “The Prevention and Mitigation of Abuse of Vulnerable Adults.”

Another vulnerable population are human trafficking victims. This issue has been addressed Church-wide, including awareness training sessions held at many of our parishes and facilities. Virtus also tackles this issue in several bulletins including one that looks at the unique vulnerability of those living in this country illegally, “Recognizing Every Person’s God-Given Dignity.” This particular bulletin generated a lot of positive response in this community.

Additionally, Virtus monthly bulletins reinforce the principles learned in the videos shown at the live training sessions, including the five steps for prevention.

• Know the warning signs of inappropriate behavior
• Control who has access
• Monitor all programs
• Be aware
• Communicate concerns

Just as a good homily can relate the Gospels to our everyday life and give us sustenance for the week to come, the monthly bulletins can keep us alert to the best practices for protecting the most vulnerable among us.

In the last 10 years of compliance with the U.S. bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, if we have learned anything, it is that where there are children, there will be predators. It is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect them, whether it be complying with the somewhat intrusive fingerprinting requirements, the time consuming three-hour live Virtus training session, or something as simple as reading our monthly bulletins.

As the bishops wrote in the Charter: “…Our obligation to protect children and young people and to prevent sexual abuse flows from the mission and example given to us by Jesus Christ himself, in whose name we serve.”