Virtus (program)

VIRTUS is a program created by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group in the United
States with a "Protecting God's Children" component that combats sexual abuse of children in
the Church. It is currently in use in over 80 dioceses in the United States.

History

In response to the growing public awareness of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church,
Monsignor Kevin McCoy and Rev. Edward J. Arsenault of the National Catholic Risk Retention
Group asked their colleagues how sexual abuse could be prevented.

This led to a convening of national experts in Washington DC in March 1998, where discussion
led to the concept of the VIRTUS program. An Ad Hoc committee was chosen by the National
Catholic Board of Directors to implement the project.

Goal and implementation

The VIRTUS program began with consulting team, including:

Rev. Edward J. Arsenault

Rev. John P. Beal, J.C.D.

Barbara Bonner, Ph.D.

David Finkelhor, Ph.D.

Jack McCalmon, Esq.

Michael Morton, M.S.

 Fr. Stephen Rossetti, D. Min., Ph.D.

Phyllis Willerscheidt

The goal of the VIRTUS program is primarily to be proactive instead of reactive when dealing
with child sexual abuse. To prevent sexual abuse, VIRTUS advocates five steps:

1. Knowing the warning signs of abuse

2. Controlling access to children

3. Monitoring programs involving children

4. Being aware of how children behave

5. Communicating concerns

VIRTUS focuses on educating teachers, parents, and other adults who interact with children
about sexual abuse and providing them with information to help prevent abuse. This takes
place in 'awareness sessions' led by trained facilitators. The awareness sessions consist of
videos, worksheets, and discussions. The videos incorporate interviews with both victims and
convicted perpetrators.

Related programs

In addition to its most common Protecting God's Children program, VIRTUS also has Victim
Advocacy Training and VIRTUS Investigation Training. The Protecting God's Children program is
also available in an online form.

The creation of the VIRTUS program is similar to efforts in other Christian churches to help
prevent child sexual abuse. One such program is Safe Sanctuaries, through the United
Methodist Church.

See also

Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal

Roman Catholic priests accused of sex offenses

Crimen sollicitationis

References
External links

http://www.virtusonline.org The main VIRTUS site

http://www.safesanctuaries.org The Safe Sanctuaries Site

http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/ Boston Globe spotlight

http://www.uuworld.org/2003/01/trend.html Article on Unitarian Universalist safeguards

http://www.christiananswers.net/q- eden/childsexualabuse.html ChristianAnswers.net

page about child sexual abuse

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