Cincinnati church says priests should not kiss or tickle children or let them sit on laps

[davidnc76]

CINCINNATI (AP) _ The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has issued a detailed list of inappropriate behaviors for priests, saying they should not kiss, tickle or wrestle children.

The newest version of the archdiocese's Decree on Child Protection also prohibits bear hugs, lap-sitting and piggyback rides.

But it says priests may still shake children's hands, pat them on the back and give high-fives.

Victim advocates who have criticized the Roman Catholic archdiocese for its handling of abuse cases say they support the new measures as a step toward better protection of children.


http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-church-touching-rules,0,1948247.story

[BlooInBloo]

1. I certainly don't want any priest touching my kids. Or being within 500 yards of my kids.

[madeline_con]

2. Good call. Adults need to act appropriately. n/t

[Subdivisions]

5. So, are you saying that all forms of touch are now licivious in nature? n/t

[madeline_con]

12. No. There is a code of ethics that should be followed when

one is with other people's children. The "touchy feely, kissy" stuff is unnecessary to show approval or encouragement.

[Subdivisions]

3. From the churce's point of view, I can understand. However, have

we gotten to the point where we can no longer nurture children without having a hug or kiss or tickle be construed as anything other than licivious behaviour?

If so, kill me now.

[Trillo]

13. HUGS, not DRUGS!

I never understood the "Hugs, not drugs" campaign. Hugs seem so much worse.

[tridim]

4. And Religion jumps the shark yet again. nt

[davidnc76]

6. I miss the days of my priest wrestling me.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. Do you like gladiator movies?

:-)

[davidnc76]

18. In moderation.

:)

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. We had a priest in my parish who would crush your hand while shaking it

It was his claim to fame, and I got to experience it as well. He'd shake your hand, and crush it until you cried uncle. After he did it to me, I stayed away from that church, and, in fact, I've never really gone back. It was all jokey, but there was something sadistic and sexual about the way he did it, squeezing until you submitted. I was 15 at the time.

[davidnc76]

26. Our families priest used to frech kiss my brother.

[davidnc76]

28. *french*

[Bob Dobbs]

8. Given the catholic clergy's predellection for pedophilia

this is a positive step.

Now if the evangelical super churches could come up with a similar prohibition against meth fueled closeted gay orgies, christofascism might be turned toward the light.

[Schema Thing]

10. Not even in the "french" style?

[DefenseLawyer]

11. How about a simpler rule:

Don't be a pedophile! That set of "guidelines" just strikes me as missing the point. None of those things are necessarily inappropriate in and of themselves unless the actor as some nefarious intent. How about instead of a code of conduct for would-be pedophiles, they work on identifying those with a problem and getting them out of the priest business all together?

[hedgehog]

14. Exactly - the implied message here is that innocent gestures have

been misconstrued as pedophilia and rape. This directive is more about protecting priests from false accusations than protecting children.

[varkam]

16. Well, I'm sure that the powers that be are probably working on that.

Maybe. Hopefully.

In any event, this is window dressing.

[DefenseLawyer]

20. Well sure

Since this is such a new phenomenon that has taken them by surprise, I'm sure they are hard at work on that.

[SidDithers]

15. Father Maxi agrees...

However, the priests seem to have other ideas.



Sid


Edit: The "Red Hot Catholic Love" episode is one of the best, IMHO.

[valerief]

17. I saw an episode of Penn & Teller's Bull$h!t recently. I forget the

actual numbers but it's something like 10 or 20 times more likely that a Catholic priest will molest your kid than some bad guy will come along and steal your kid.

[Romulox]

19. Our society is based on fear and paranoia. Seen those new commercials featuring "ordinary guys"

talking about how they like spending time with your kids? Surprise! They are sexual deviants! (Turns out everyone who seems "normal" is probably a child molester... :puke: )

[davidnc76]

21. So true!

[bdf]

22. Call me cynical but...

The one thing not on that list is that Catholic priests should refrain from buggering the kids. So that, apparently, is still OK.

[TexasObserver]

23. I wouldn't be surprised if it is a new requirement of some forms of insurance.

Any entity which handles children almost certainly has form of liability coverage. Insurers and insured alike worry about claims of molestation. The damages can be off the chart. I can imagine that some insurers have a list of requirements if they will issue coverage for such events. Non contact provisions such as those listed in the OP might be an insurance company's way of providing coverage but limiting the claims that are covered under the policy.

Or, it might be a policy instituted by the body which overseers these entities, so that they can help avoid any claims of molestation.

I feel badly that good men and women can no longer give physical comfort and reassurance to kids in these situations, but unfortunately, we have to err on the side of safety to stop the creeps from hurting kids.

[DefenseLawyer]

25. If one is a pedophile

and is either willing to or unable to resist acting upon it, are these "rules" really going to prevent anything? I mean if someone is a child molester, he may not have much respect for rules. I'm just sayin. You are probably right about the insurance company being the source here, but I really don't see how it will stop any "creeps" at all.

[TexasObserver]

27. Such a rule means it's not going to be a good environment for them.

It doesn't stop them. It only stops them from being at THIS place.

Like the ants you run off your property, they move somewhere else.

[Sanctified]

24. I wonder if Victim Advocates would ask the same thing from our teachers.

Sorry but this just seems stupid to me, people who are going to abuse children are going to do it even if there is some dumb rule that says they can't tickle children.