Kristin Leandro, Tyra Lamb, Elizabeth Lyons
By Kristin Leandro
Special to the Herald
Since 2006, four years after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) developed and implemented the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” American dioceses have taken turns hosting an annual conference for the safe environment directors and victim assistance coordinators who serve in the nation’s 197 dioceses and eparchies. These meetings provide an opportunity for continued learning, fellowship and ministry in support of our bishops’ promise to protect our most vulnerable and their pledge to heal those who have been abused.
Over the years, conference topics have ranged from “best practices” and trends in the field of child abuse prevention, to updates on current abuse prevention efforts in the U.S. Catholic Church and internationally. The conference also provides an opportunity to hear personal stories and perspectives from victims of abuse and from the behavioral health professionals who work directly with perpetrators of abuse.
The 14th annual Child and Youth Protection Catholic Leadership Conference (CYPCLC) was held March 24-27 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, sponsored by six archdioceses and dioceses and one eparchy representing New Jersey and Pennsylvania. More than 210 people attended, representing dioceses all over the country, including Hawaii and the territories of Guam and Saipan.
Full of grace
The theme for the 2019 conference was “Full of Grace,” as the first full day in session, March 25, was the feast the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Indeed, who better than Mary, Mother of God, to be our inspiration on this journey of renewal, continued growth and camaraderie in our ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our church?
Besides myself, two others represented the Diocese of Honolulu: Tyra Lamb, safe environment liaison for Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and School in Pearl City and member of our Diocesan Review Board, and Elizabeth Lyons, diocesan victim assistance coordinator and counselor with Catholic Charities Hawaii.
For Lamb, it was her first time attending this conference; and judging from the enthusiasm and engagement she displayed in meeting with our colleagues from across the country, it most certainly will not be her last time.
This was Lyon’s third Child and Youth Protection conference. For her, the sessions with the most impact were those dealing with the behavior of predators. “In some sense, we tend to see predatory behavior as being on a continuum,” she said. “We know there are sex offenders who seem to be extremely violent, narcissistic, secretive, abusive … you fill in the blank. These individuals have ‘earned’ a spot on the severe extreme of the continuum. But if we compare certain other sex abuse cases to these severe cases, we can trick ourselves into minimizing the other less severe cases.”
Lyons also pointed out that she was “favorably impressed by the statements that the church is considering broadening its stance on sex abuse against minors by clergy to include all abuse — not just against minors. I have found it problematic that disclosures of abuse by a victim who had attained the age of 18 (at the time of abuse) are seen as ‘misconduct’ or even ‘inappropriate behavior.’”
Finally, she was encouraged by “the acknowledgment that we are dealing with an international and cross-cultural problem. It has been a thinking error to believe that the problems of abuse and cover-ups of abuse by clergy are uniquely American problems.”
This is my fourth Child and Youth Protection conference. In comparing the experiences, one thing has remained constant — every place I visit, every person I meet leaves an indelible mark on my heart. And what I have come to learn, especially through the wonderful colleagues I’ve met in these last few years, is that God has called each and every one of us in this ministry to do this important work.
Every day, we are called to say “Yes” to God, inspired and guided by the one who first said “Yes” to him, Mary our Blessed Mother.
Kristin Leandro is the director of the Safe Environment Office for the Diocese of Honolulu.
