-- George Eliot, Scenes of Clerical Life
Agreeable Friends!
We thought we would return the favor to the Chicago Archdiocese and go read what is offered on their web site.
If you've clicked on the link above, you are now aware that the church has reacted to much of the negative fall-out they experienced after the priest-child sex abuse scandal by forming the new Office for the Protection of Children and Youth. We applaud their efforts; it's the least they can do.
Notably, the web page above also includes a link to the Chicago Archdiocese's Children Matter Network, which bills itself as "a partnership created to promote and protect the dignity of children."
Included in a discussion for choosing a summer program for kids, the Children Matter Network of the Archdiocese of Chicago offers the following suggestions --
before selecting your child’s summer program or activity:Notwithstanding the ironic recommendation of government oversight for any given program, the PRU Crew is willing to bet that if anyone from the Chicago Archdiocese Children Matter Network were asked if parents should ask these questions only in relation to issues of program employees and sexual predation on children, they would answer "No! Ask these questions of any program and facility where you send your children, to ensure you are sending them into a healthy and safe environment!"
Verify that the facility is licensed by the State of Illinois. Ask the Director to see the facility’s license and check the expiration date to ensure it is current;
Observe all areas of the facility to ensure that there are no safety or health hazards;
Ask the Director detailed questions regarding the screening of staff. These questions could include;
Ask to review their hiring application. Ask questions about the application if any areas are unfamiliar or critical information is not requested on the application.
Ask if they run a criminal background check on all employees prior to hiring? Is it an online background check or FBI digital fingerprinting?
Do they conduct a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking Systems (CANTS) check with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on all employees prior to hiring?
Ask if they request professional references and do they contact these references prior to hiring an applicant?
What type of experience must staff members have to work for this particular program?
What type of certifications must staff members have to work for this particular program?
So, all you SPC parents daring to ask questions and demand answers about the PADS program your pastor, Fr. Morello, and his fellow members of the PRMA wish to conduct in the school gym your children use...? Tell them the Archdiocese of Chicago suggested you do so.
A Good Idea!
We received the following "Alternate Suggestion to PADS" in an email. The PRU Crew thinks this is a very good idea!
1. We DO NOT INVOLVE the PADS people at all. Their screening is not satisfactory and their program has been dangerous in other towns. Their system only offers one night of undignified help and invites in homeless from other towns. PADS will increase the homeless population in Park Ridge. They are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
2. The Park Ridge Police Department would locate and identify the PARK RIDGE HOMELESS (which likely number 6-10 individuals). The PARK RIDGE HOMELESS are then fingerprinted to ensure that none of these
individuals are a danger to us or our children.
3. Every church in PRMA would shelter one homeless person per night. This idea eliminates a large group assembling around a church before and after they are sheltered.
4. The homeless would be sheltered in the rectory or another location in the church, but not in an area used by children.
5. Volunteers (and there are many) would be scheduled to come to each location, actually meet the homeless person, and bring a warm meal. Many volunteers and their families may want to spend time with the guest, have dinner with them, and engage them in meaningful conversation. (Rather than just "supervise" them as PADS volunteers do.) This would be a great way to teach children about how to care for others.
6. An additional volunteer can take the persons clothing home to be washed and returned fresh and clean (something else that is lacking in the current plan.)
7. With this system, the homeless can also spend time with one of our priests and discuss our faith (something that is actually prohibited by PADS policy)
8. Unlike the PADS idea, the homeless would not be forced to share a bathroom with 10-20 other homeless people, or wait in line for a toilet.
9. A comfortable fold out bed can be purchased for the guest to sleep on, in a dignified location, rather than on a hard mat or cot on the floor of a gym.
10. The guest could have access to a shower, a television set, and caring people. The PADS system would require the homeless to wash themselves in a sink in the boys bathroom.
11. In the morning, the guest would have breakfast and leave - showered, wearing clean clothes, and feeling that they just spent time with good Christian people who truly care about them. Their experience would be far more meaningful and dignified than any PADS shelter could offer.
12. Finally, as the guest leaves, he would be told which church to go to that night. That would ensure that only one person shows up at each location. It also ensures that we take care of the Park Ridge homeless, and not people from Chicago and other suburbs.
Additionally, this program addresses the issue 7 days a week. PADS only addresses it for one day. This program spreads the homeless out at numerous churches, rather than a large number at one location.
The exact originator of the idea is unknown to us, but we offer our PRUdos just the same.
47 comments:
It only takes one screwball to take an opportunity to commit a crime against any child on site.
The more frequent - the more the opportunity will present itself to take advantage.
They will be come chummy with the kids and before you know it - he's eating at your table.
Continued visits to the site and hanging around after ( off site )
is the reason we don't need to NOT have
this PADS operations here at SP.
Basic crime prevention:
" The anticipation and recognition of a crime risk...and the initiation to remove or reduce this crime risk". Stop it before it happens!
Thank you.
Note: Put them on the train and send to Palatine with direction.
I'm new to this blogging-thing. Can you help me out?
Are ideas supposed to be childish and make no sense, therefore starting more childish and senseless dialouge?
I've almost stop caring about the PADS issue, and started getting more concerned about the intelligence level of my neighbors. Holy crap, how can you survive in this world with this intellect? Do you have jobs? Are you raising kids? Are you living in your parents basement?
Suggestion: Find an aurgument, and stick to it. Since you clearly don't want "those people" in Park Ridge, stop making cases for alternatives. You won't want them in any building in Park Ridge, so don't suggest it. Remember: You all moved here to get away from those people.
Your supporters aren't smart enough to figure out your sarcasm... you're only confusing them. You were much more convincing when you were creating lies. The believed those. Problem is, once they realize that they are lies, the get demotivated.
As a leading voice in this "debate", it's your job to keep everyone focused. Now, start doing your job, or I'll have to find some other way to waste 10-minutes of my day!
Hey, the sun came up about an hour ago... why don't we complain about that for a while?
1. Why does it have to be EVERY morning?
2. Is Frimark responsible for this?
3. Why is round? Maybe we should have created a referendum to see what shape it should be?
4. Why does Indiana see the sun before us?
Have a great day!
I must ask this because I heard it from someone at the Taste this weekend--is it correct that Fr. Carl believes that many of the "homeless" are actually women trying to get out of abusive homes?
PERFECTO, U'Ground. This is the exact vision I had in my head last Monday when some guy named Maramba praised Fr. Carl as "our shepherd" protecting his "flock" from the "wolves." I started laughing, which sure got me some dirty looks from Morello fans.
I just have to shake my head. The sheep in the flock take that symoblism literally! People, come on! It was only meant to be a symbol. You aren't really supposed to be mindless dumb sheep following the shepherd.
Folks, everyone really needs to look at this site that was posted by Glen Ellyn resident on Public Watchdog.
http://glenellynsafety.org/
The latest posting is about an arrest at a PADS shelter there - one of the charges is public intoxication! Isn't that one of the things PADS says won't happen with their "guests"?
Read through the site. The homeless are hanging out in parks, libraries, train stations, etc. Just the things people are concerned about here and the things that are being dismissed by the PRMA and the pro-PADS folks.
Is Bravenet working today? Our Tech tried like hell to link to their Healing Hands document yesterday, but the site was down all day.
Thanks for the post.
For anyone interested in reading about the health concerns among the homeless, check out the following link --
http://glenellynsafety.org/Homelessness%20and%20Health%20Risks.pdf
It was put together by a group that advocates honestly for the homeless -- The National Health Care for the Homeless Council.
Is the "Maramba" the same guy who just became the local Rotary Club president? Ignacio D. Maramba?
As I commented yesterday, I have worked in PADS as a volunteer doctor in Oak Park.
I guess for those who are new and as this is a newer post, here is what I have said.
I am laying it out, plain and simple. The members of PADS are NOT all women and "children." The people I have seen and partially helped from donations are mostly middle aged men, past and current drug uses. I have not seen any children. I have treated a few women, none of whom were abused, but were schizophrenics without medications. Is Oak Park concerned? Yes. There are approx 10-15 police officers on any given night.
So here is my perspective, from a person who works in PADS. I, as many members want to do, is to help. Am I really though? When I think of it. No. I have basic medicine...Tylenol, Tums, and Penicillin. Yep, some old donated medications. Well, here is my side of the story.
---------------------------
I thought I would give a different perspective from the medical standpoint. I am a physician who volunteers in a Chicagoland PADS clinic.
I technically “evaluate” the people. I say “evaluate” because this is all I do. Do they get proper medical care? NO. Are they sick? Yes.
What exactly do I see here and what would be coming into Park Ridge?
Community Acquired MRSA is very high
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Arthropod Diseases, including head and pubic lice
MULTIPLE Psychiatric disorders, including rampant schizophrenia
HIV/AIDS
Tuberculosis
Drug Use
And this is not an extensive list.
I understand the need to help them. But I also understand that having a shelter, much less in an elementary school gym is not going to solve anything. PADS in itself has only placed a band aid on a huge gaping wound. The Park Ridge Community will be have not only the physical dangers that the PADS members will bring, including child sexual preditors, as they will have plenty of access to children, but also place the residents at both physical and medical risk. I think that the members of St Paul who are rushing to have this shelter, must realize that they are putting MANY people at risk. I am a firm believer in helping others, as I have dedicated my life to serving the sick, but my primary job is “to do no harm.” I think Fr Carl should also take a look not at only the people he may help for a few hours, but the many people he may harm in the near future.
-Park Ridge Physician
Yes, same Maramba.
Also ran (and lost) for the Park Board a few years ago.
Also the same Maramba who was appointed by Mayor Liemark to the police and fire commission.
Funny how all this ties together.
Just another Lackey for Liemark
This is not directed to comments and commenters currently posted.
Finally warning, asshole. No libel. No bullshit. We will not post your bullshit/libelous comments.
Reminder warning to the rest of you.
I love the idea of having the homeless sleep in the rectory. I have an exterminating business and Father can put me on a weekly retainer.
and when they are "released" for the day from SPC, will they hang out on the steps of City Hall? RIGHT in front of it all?
Picture it....
It never hurts to tell the truth.
Remember that........
Thank you.
Weren't you the one who told some guy he was a boot-licking ass-kisser? he [probably is, but you printed that. Where do you draw the line? whereever YOU see fit?
Look out people, he's serious...
Yup. We are very serious. Not only about ass-kissing boot-lickers but also about libelous bullshit.
The Glen Ellen web site is sobering and certainly ends the speculation about what PADS will do to our community. Are our Park Ridge leaders and the PRMA REALLY going to bring THIS into our community? I wonder if any of the "Christians" that post here would still be pro PADS if they end up a victim of some homeless person? The Glen Ellen web site certainly says that there WILL be problems.
they will say, "how were we supposed to know?"
when is the next city council meeting? I know this will be discussed then.
ooooo it looks like you are getting angry now. I love it when people get angry when someone calls their bullshit.
This coming election should be very interesting.
The process and those seeking to become the leaders of tomorrow
here in town need to be ready
and willing to take on these
and other issues that may come up.
We can only hope for a search committee will be ready and able to put their hands on a strong candidate to properly represent ALL of the people.
Keeping in mind that its a non paying position here and when you become a volunteer - you are just that a volunteer.
Maybe we need to rethink and make these positions on the city council a fulltime - paid position.
After all.......its a fulltime headache when things don't get done and the cell phones of those volunteers go into overload - mode.
Its time for a change and that should be from top down.
Clean out the waste, the freebees,
the parachutes, the cozy deals in locating people and paying them to live here?
100% commitment calls for complete total effort and not just part time thinking. Inaction can be very painful when it comes to any type of form of government and its leaders.
Thank you.
jfahren---do you offend EVERYONE you come across?
Anonymous at 9:50am--we wouldn't need FULL TIME aldermonkeys/mayor if there was a decent City Manager in place who actually "managed."
I am a current SPC parent and this is an awful situation - THere is a city council meeting on Monday to discuss the need for special use permit for hte shelter to be in place. This meeting is going to be highly attended. However, it is still not known if legally SPC has to apply for such a permit and we can't sit around and wait as we need decisions to figure out school!
After our ridiculous meeting with Fr. Carl where 500 people came out on both sides, this is just yet another opportuity to voice our opinions aganist this program coming to our schools. Fr. Carl believes that this program will help many more peole and that our kdis will nto come in contact with the homelss folks and that the PADS group we will be working with run a tight ship and will kick anyone out who misbehaves or loiters. Every other host sight has seen the program grow and grow from the start of 10-15 people to over 50 - you get to those numbers you lose control - there is no way to clean the facility enough or ensuer that the folks have left the premises. The arguement that a hospital room is cleaned in 15 mins? Well how many know someone who has had a serious infection they caught AT a hospital.
This is a danger to the school and to the entire community in that they are a concentrated group of people who collectively have less health care, less access to preventative meds, are unable to care for themselves, and unabel to function at a level of normal behavior, and a large % have mental illness and don't take their meds. If I were Park Ridge POlice I would be looking for a new job! As if the teen center wasn't enough!
ONce the newness wears off and the being incredibly aware wears off people will resort to their innate behaviors and that is what we are afraid of. This has nothing to do with being non-christian so keep those comments to yourselves but everything to do with speaking up for our 5, 6, 7 year old kids who have barely mastered washing their hands or not talking to strangers! Because we live in a society where you have to be careful of everyone - including your neighbor, uncle and priest! We have every right ot not only question the program but to ask that the PADS program not come to SPC.
PS Fr. Carl can not even guarantee that the 6 folks in PR that are known homeless would qualify for the program nor want to be in the program therefore we are just inviting more to our community and still not helping those in our own community who need help. I just hope Field has room for everyone leaving SPC - anyone know if there's room in 4th grade?
I would like to know where these people are going to go at 6:30 in the morning when everything is closed? It does not seem like a very Christian-like thing to do to kick them out at 6:30 in winter when it is cold and dark.Perhaps Fr.Carl can keep them inside the rectory for a few hours until the library or other places are open.
Maybe, we should check the graveyard
next election process....Howard and his gang may need those votes too!
Homeless people have the same fundamental freedoms as the rest of us, so PADS/SPC can only impose rules on the shelter property --- They can do whatever the heck they want in Park Ridge the rest of the time. So in answer to Anonymous 7/16 at 3:36 PM question of where will they go at 6:30 am? They WILL hang-out around uptown, in Einstein’s, Starbuck’s, in that courtyard area by the theater, Metra property, that park by the train tracks, empty homes, garages --- until the library opens at 9:00 am.
I have worked with homeless people, those that use ‘emergency shelters’ don’t want to help themselves, and they have entitlement issues. They make up excuses as to why they can’t work or why they were fired. Gosh they are chronic, it’s a lifestyle and they like it. These people have broken ties with family and friends because of endless lying, stealing, criminal activity, addictions and a lifestyle that revolves around handouts. And YES they need lots of professional help, but this is the wrong setting and location!
my new response to those who are on the opposite side of the fence on the PADS issue -- "Peace be with you."
What a SHOCKED look on their faces!
See you at city council meeting on Monday!
Peace to you also.
yes, we will see you on monday.
PR physician.
I've got another question. Since they are only going to accept 20 people, what happens if more than 20 show up? Where do they go? Would any good Christian people turn them away at the door? That is as cruel as throwing them out at 6:30A.M. when they have nowhere else to go.
7/16@8:25PM You'll love this ......
At one of many meetings with PADS they answered that question: the Park Ridge shelter would call the other sites that open that evening to determine which had openings and the PARK RIDGE POLICE DEPT would drive the overflow guest to that location. PADS went on to say that Barrington and Inverness PADS always have openings becasue they are hard to get to. Can you imagine the cost, on a Sunday evening, driving round trip to Inverness. Are the officers paid overtime on weekends???
So while the police are busy driving to Inverness, who will be protecting the people of Park Ridge? I guess we will have to hope that Niles will help us.
Maybe Fr Carl can request Vatican City Gendarmerie to give us a hand?
I thought that these people are not dangerous! Why the need for a police escort to Inverness? Can't some of the PADS volunteers drive them there? Why use our tax money for this purpose? We were not allowed to vote on this issue so why use our tax money? Is there any type of petition that has been started to put a stop to this nonsense? I will sign it with my family tomorrow!
Middle-aged, tired, and fed up
A report on SPC SHELTER SECURITY is on the agenda of a Special Public Safety Committee Meeting tomorrow in the Mayor's Conference Room at 7:00 PM. Does anyone know if this is a closed meeting, or can residents concerned about shelter security attend as well?????
It is most definitely an open meeting. Anyone can attend. Anyone interested in doing so can also record the meeting.
PADS also said if someone shows up who is not an already registered person who has had the background and health screening they can be issued a temporary ID for the night and must within a few day s go to the office and get registered - so basically anyone can show up and stay temporarily without any background check - and the only real way to prove someone is who they say they are is through fingerprinting I mean come on we can all steal ID's and get a new one with a different name! And VIOLA our criminal history is missing. The guests are told nto to loiter of they lose their spot but are they lopitering if they have $2.00 to buy a coffee at your local store? are they loitering if they sit in the library? or in our church where are kids are coming? There is so much bad about this I don't even know where to begin... and again those that we see in PR that ARE homeless we don't even know if they qualify or would be a part of this program...
The pads supporters are delusional. They think the 12 hours in a shelter once a week through the winter months is "sheltering the homeless"
If they really want to shelter the homeless, let them offer up their unused summer homes throughout the winter months.
The only other solution is to actually have those interested in the 5 homeless in PR help find them jobs, nightly shelter in halfway houses, etc. Talk about "walking the walk". Why don't THEY walk the walk and come up with a real solution, and not a 12 hour bandaid?
Not only are the PADS supporters dellusional, but they are also being snowed by a "for-profit" organization.
I guess this will all be discussed at Monday's City Council meeting
7:30pm
City Hall
Are you in or are you out?
They have to apply for a special permit. We'll see about approval for that.
Permit: Should be a BIG yes on the city's part
Vote? I think this should be on the ballat since this will effect us all. Afterall, we had to vote on a waterslide!
-PR Physician
i was speaking to someone who had worked at bringing PADS to St. Mary's, she was saying that they were all so glad that St. Paul "stepped up" because there they only could have taken 10-12. She said it's so great because it's such a big gymnasium, we can accommodate so many more than they could've. How many people have heard an estimate of 10-15 from Fr. Carl? This is a slippery slope. We must take action now before it is too late. Word is, cops have seen at times up to 200 homeless men sleeping in the woods.
Not too long ago St, Mary's was ready to set up shop with PADS. At that time concerned neighbors and citizens did their homework and researched PADS. Those belonging to St Paul and concerned neighbors and citizens should do the same.
My sister lives in Downers Grove where several PADS shelters are located. She has seen more homeless hanging out in the downtown area in the last two years. At times she takes Metra to work and has been asked for a "donation" from the homeless. She saw "critters" (lice?) in one man's beard as he was waiting to find a seat.
Please read the May 18th article from the Chicago Tribune titled,"Downers Grove Seeing More Homeless..."."The homeless become more visible in the village after the PADS Shelters have reached capicity and start turning away people, usually after 7pm...."
Run a search using downers grove homeless on your search engine.
You will find the Minutes to the Downers Grove Town Meeting at downers.us/assets/products. Pages 3-5 address the PADS/Homeless issue and the policies the town should have in place to handle certain situations.
Take a look at the Downers Grove Reporter 5/16/08 article. Interesting that "DuPage PADS Received the 2008 Robert Crist Affordable Housing Award". Isn't Park Ridge in need of more affordable housing? Look down on the same page. "New DuPage President For PADS" is a CPA/CFA with Forum Financial. Interesting?!?
Other articles using this search revealed that PADS has had a car wash fundraiser and a walk-a-thon fundraiser. And there is much more to read.
Do some research. Search under other towns that have PADS, read their local papers stories.
As a business owner, I ask many questions before making decisions. I feel that citizens for or against PADS should look at the facts; do a little research...read the archives of this blog.
Buyer beware!
I have been asked on PR's other website, publicwatch dog for medical evidence articles regarding my statements of previous.
Evidence based articles- just a quick search:
As for evidence based medicine as has been asked.
MRSA: An Epidemic of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Soft Tissue Infections Among Medically Underserved Patients. Archives of Surgery. Volume 139(9), September 2004, p 947–953.
A good summary of %s.
Six- and Twelve-Month Outcomes among Homeless Youth Accessing Therapy and Case Management Services through an Urban Drop-in Center. Health Services Research. 43(1, Part I):211-229, February 2008. Natasha; Kang, Min Ju; Bonomi, Amy E.; Prestopnik, Jillian L.
Health Status, Health Care Use, Medication Use, and Medication Adherence Among Homeless and Housed People Living With HIV/AIDS. American Journal of Public Health. HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS. 97(12):2238-2245, December 2007. Daniel P. PhD; Wolitski, Richard J. PhD; Campsmith, Michael L. DDS, MPH; Nakamura, Glenn V. PhD
Outbreaks of tuberculosis in facilities used by an unspecified number of people near a train station - problems regarding tuberculosis in urban areas. Kinoshita S et al.Kekkaku. 2007 Oct;82(10):749-57.
Arthropod-borne diseases in homeless.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Oct;1078:223-35.Brouqui, P.
-------------------------------
-Youn Physician
Reading about DG it seem the homeless problem must have grown since PADS opened there and it makes me wonder more why they seem to wanna spread the homeless problem around?
ON the SPC School site Morello justfies the bible for this.
Mike - that is part of my problem with this - as a SPC parent Fr. Carl continues to quote the bible and say this is a ministry however there are more issues beyond the ministry that MUST be considered that are socio economic issues! There are valid health concerns... there are economic concerns for the local business owners... there are a myriad of concerns about the homeless that will not only be served at PADS but also those that are turned away! PADS acknowledges that they turn people away who don't qualify for their program - where do you think those folks will go? Right into the downtown, down the block, on your corner... this is not a PR homeless problem Fr. Carl is trying to solve... he is inviting it into the community as a whole and yes we fear that the 10-12 is a beginning number to make us feel good but that will be certainly excalated as we wil be told "there's a need"! We are tkaing on other communities concers - and we should learn from other communities. This is not ministry because it's a corporation that can't allow any faith based teachings - yet this program runs off the schools/parishes that are Catholic... very confusing and unjustifiable.
anon 10:12:
I have asked this a bunch times on the board and I will as it again. I am not catholic but where have you been????
You are an SPC parent so I assume that mean you are Catholic. In all your time going to Church, you have never heard them discuss charity and sacrafice? You have never heard about Catholic missions? No mention of soup kitchens? No Mother Teresa discussions? No mention that other Catholic schools have shelters?
I attended a Catholic University (one of the only non-catholics there) and here is a paraphrase from the president of that university. It comes from the Pope (I believe that is the big guy). "The Holy father noted the pivitol role Catholic schools play in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ - it is their primary reason for being".
Now I don't buy any of this. I am against PADS but I am AMAZED at all the Catholics who are shocked by what their church is doing. Did youthink that none of this applied to you?
This is completely within the character and past behavior of the church
Post a Comment