En Prise!

"To do evil that good may come of it is for bunglers in politics as well as morals." -- William_Penn.

The evil we speak of today is the evil of daring to use children as pawns in a political disagreement about public policy between adults.

In an email sent to members of Mary Seat of Wisdom parish, we read that Fr. Gerald Gunderson and Mary Seat principal Judy Schutter have determined that any family wishing to transfer their children from St. Paul of the Cross school -- to avoid having their children exposed to the potential dangers of housing a homeless shelter in their school gym -- have been denied admission in support of St. Paul Pastor Carl Morello's desire to open a PADS shelter there.

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We recognize that any private school has the ability and the right to deny admission. But as the old saying goes, just because you can doesn't mean you should.

And we are really disgusted that this is being done with the full knowledge and advice of the Archdiocese; that terrific institution which spent decades covering up their failure to protect the most innocent members of their flock, children, against the wolf-like appetites of the pedophile priests in their employ.

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, neither the Archdiocese nor the larger Roman Catholic Church has much of an admirable recent track record of looking out for the safety of our kids. Their words have not matched their actions.

As we told PRU readers in our July 15, 2008 post, the Archdiocese created the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth that includes the Chicago Archdiocese's Children Matter Network, which bills itself as "a partnership created to promote and protect the dignity of children."

It seems pretty clear to us that they'll "promote and protect the dignity of children" as long as that protection and dignity doesn't hinder the agendas of the pastors running local parishes. It also seems pretty clear to us that neither the Archdiocese nor certain parish priests consider it undignified to use children as pawns for their political goals.

Agreeable Friends And A Good Idea!

-- 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:

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?

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!"

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.