The Catholic Herald
Mission Statement:
The Catholic Herald is the official newspaper of the Diocese of Madison. Its purpose is to inform and educate people of the Diocese through communications that proclaim Gospel values, report the news, and comment on issues as they pertain to the mission of the Catholic Church, which is to bring all in Jesus Christ to the Father. |
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Program for children's safety:
Being implemented in diocese
By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
MADISON -- The Diocese of Madison is implementing a new program in all Catholic schools and catechetical programs to help maintain a safe environment for children.
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Decree of Promulgation
As agreed upon by the Bishops of the United States, in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in June
2002, each diocese will "provide education and training" about "ways to make
and maintain a safe environment for children."
With this letter, I hereby decree that the Diocese of Madison will fulfill its responsibility to educate children with regard to this important information through the program "Valuing God's Gifts in Ourselves and Others." The diocesan Office of Safe Environment is responsible for the establishment and monitoring of this program.
Wherefore, and in accord with all the teachings of the Catholic Church, I decree that the implementation of the program "Valuing God's Gifts in Ourselves and Others" must take into consideration and insure that:
1. schools and religious education programs always recognize and support parents as the primary educators of their children, and support parents who choose to teach their own children, with regard to these matters;
2. the safe environment lessons for children must be available in all Catholic schools and religious education programs every year;
3. all safe environment lessons for children must be age appropriate as judged by the diocesan Office of Safe Environment;
4. parents are informed of the schedule, nature, and content of the lessons planned;
5. if an alternate program is desired, approval is needed from the Office of Safe Environment prior to the use of such a program.
As Bishop of Madison, I hereby decree that the effective date for the institution of "Valuing God's Gifts in Ourselves and Others" for all parishes and schools in the Diocese of Madison will be on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, 2007.
Given at the offices of the Diocese of Madison, WI, on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, 2007.
[signed]
Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison |
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Called "Valuing God's Gifts in Ourselves and Others," the program was developed specifically for the Diocese of Madison's Office of Safe Environment in cooperation with experts in the diocese.
The program grows out of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People issued in 2002 in the wake of revelations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy in the Catholic Church. The Charter asked each diocese to "provide education and training" about "ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children."
The goal of the program is to provide learning that will promote and protect, as much as possible, the health and safety of the children and young people in parishes, schools, institutions, and communities.
"This goal flows first of all from the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, who showed constant care for the vulnerable, most especially for the children," says the program guide.
New program
In the Diocese of Madison, much of the emphasis since 2003 has been on training adults, said Sr. Marcia Vinje, director of the diocesan Office of Safe Environment (OSE). "We started out with the VIRTUS program for children in 2004 but weren't satisfied with that," she said.
Kate Wiskus, former coordinator for safe environment, established a committee of people from Catholic schools and catechetical programs who wrote a curriculum tailored to the Diocese of Madison. The program was piloted for one year from 2005 to 2006 in some of the parishes. "In 2006 to 2007, we asked all parishes to use it and evaluate it," said Sister Marcia. Full story ...
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Field of dreams: Volunteers transform diocesan baseball field
By Mary C. Uhler
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF
MADISON -- The Bishop O'Connor Center (BOC) staff had dreamed of improving its baseball field. But it took some dedicated volunteers to make the dream become a reality.
Recently Bishop Robert C. Morlino blessed the renovated field, with his own "team" of diocesan seminarians standing with him. Bishop Morlino thanked the many friends and benefactors "for giving us really the best field in Madison."
He added, "We're very proud that this is part of the Bishop O'Connor Pastoral Center. We're proud that we have facilities here that encourage excellence in sports."
Full story ...
| Catholic Herald summer publication schedule |
During the summer months, The Catholic Herald will continue to be published weekly except for three issues. The remaining issue to be skipped is August 9. At right is the deadline for the issue prior to the week skipped:
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| Issue |
Weeks covered |
Deadline |
Issue skipped |
| Aug. 2 |
first two weeks of Aug. |
July 26 |
August 9
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