Virtus Training? Do you know anything about it?

[the_rev]

Do you know anything about the VIRTUS training that people working with students and the vulnerable have to undergo within the diocese?

I am taking an assignment to teach a special needs man the faith and prepare him for confirmation. I do not have Virtus Training, but am almost 17. Do I need to be Virtus trained before I work with him?

Yours in Christ,

Ed L.

[jezic]

it is probably a good idea.

[the_rev]

that is what I was thinking. I think I might call the diocesean office tomorrow.

[homeschoolmom]

Can't you ask the priest?

[the_rev]

that would entail me calling him and I don't want to be of any bother. I will see him Sunday. I shall see what I do.

[YMNolan]

If it's a one time deal it's not necessary, but it wouldn't be a bad idea anyway.
It's actually a pretty good course. Scary and disturbing to see some of the shocking truth about pedophilia in our world (not only in the Church). But it definitely makes you aware of somethings you may not realize.

[popestpiusx]

Bad news.

[popestpiusx]

Fr. Altier's (of St. Anges, Cam's parish) homily on the subject:
[url="http://chronicleofameanderingtraveller.blogspot.com/2006/03/fr-altiers-offending-readtruthful-and.html#links"]http://chronicleofameanderingtraveller.blo...-and.html#links[/url]

[kateri05]

actually VIRTUS is only for over 18 year olds. they figure those under don't do any molesting (question mark? )

they might let you in since you're almost there, but honestly, the training is lame-o and full of totally "duh" information, so.....

yea. ive taken it. and want those 3 hours of my life back! :

[ardillacid]

You are wrong kateri. Virtus is being implemented in my archdiosese. (st. paul). It is horrible and it is for kids. VERY YOUNG kids as well as older kids. Popestpius is right on this one. It is a dangerous program. as a side note, its creating company has ties to planned parenthood.

[jgirl]

They have a program for kids, but the one the one that many of the dioceses require for working with kids is for those over 18. The only thing it did for me was make me scared of roller rink workers. My friends and I went skating about 2 years ago, and I never noticed how creepy some of the men who work at roller rinks can be.

[thessalonian]

[quote name='kateri05' post='963673' date='Apr 27 2006, 10:28 PM']
actually VIRTUS is only for over 18 year olds. they figure those under don't do any molesting (question mark? )

they might let you in since you're almost there, but honestly, the training is lame-o and full of totally "duh" information, so.....

yea. ive taken it. and want those 3 hours of my life back! :
[/quote]

There is a training for teachers and a program for children. I've not seen the program for kids yet but from my understanding it's not good. It does not affirm Catholic teaching. Does not speak of right and wrong and many involved in it's developement were from groups such as planned parenthood.

Catholic Parents Online has an artilce on it and there is a better program offered by them for free.

[url="http://www.catholicparents.org/"]http://www.catholicparents.org/[/url]


Also see this:
[url="http://www.catholicparents.org/index3.htm"]http://www.catholicparents.org/index3.htm[/url]

Hope that helps.

[hopeful1]

my mom works for a catholic school and has to go through it every year. she thinks it's carp. more in the same sentiment kateri had than in the program values. however, i wasn't aware that an alternative program existed.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='the_rev' post='963414' date='Apr 27 2006, 07:17 PM']
Do you know anything about the VIRTUS training that people working with students and the vulnerable have to undergo within the diocese?

I am taking an assignment to teach a special needs man the faith and prepare him for confirmation. I do not have Virtus Training, but am almost 17. Do I need to be Virtus trained before I work with him?

Yours in Christ,

Ed L.
[/quote]
i hate the VIRTUS program. imho, it stinks. but, as far as your question, i think only 18+ adults have to be trained.

[azaelia]

[quote name='notardillacid' post='963765' date='Apr 28 2006, 01:20 AM']
You are wrong kateri. Virtus is being implemented in my archdiosese. (st. paul). It is horrible and it is for kids. VERY YOUNG kids as well as older kids. Popestpius is right on this one. It is a dangerous program. as a side note, its creating company has ties to planned parenthood.
[/quote]
There are two different programs we're talking about here. You're talking about the training our Diocese is calling Child Lures. They're talking about the Protecting God's Children program for 18+. They're two different programs...and they're both carp.

I've been trained, and had a background check done on me. I've also filled out several volunteer applications. I basically can't be alone in a room with my sister according to the rules of the Diocese.

[StMichael]

[quote name='notardillacid' post='963765' date='Apr 27 2006, 10:20 PM']
You are wrong kateri. Virtus is being implemented in my archdiosese. (st. paul). It is horrible and it is for kids. VERY YOUNG kids as well as older kids. Popestpius is right on this one. It is a dangerous program. as a side note, its creating company has ties to planned parenthood.
[/quote]


Who is the creating company and how do you know it has ties to planned infantcide?

Please let me know as soon as you can.

thanks.

[YMNolan]

yikes, I had no idea about some of this stuff.

[quote]There are two different programs we're talking about here. You're talking about the training our Diocese is calling Child Lures. They're talking about the Protecting God's Children program for 18+. They're two different programs...and they're both carp.

I've been trained, and had a background check done on me. I've also filled out several volunteer applications. I basically can't be alone in a room with my sister according to the rules of the Diocese. [/quote]

az - you're spot on with that. I have to go to great length's to "protect myself". there's a ton of rules, which I guess some are very understandable but very tough to deal.

[Iacobus]

I did it. It was pretty boring. But then again, I did it with a few other college kids and let us just say the level of the program was far below us. But they gave us free donuts...

[journeyman]

The program in our Diocese is the "Protecting God's Children" version. All adults who do or may work with children are required to attend the course.

There aren't a lot of surprises in the training, especially if you have received training in other contexts (Boy Scouts "Guide to Safe Scouting" for example). The "buddy system" protects the adult volunteers almost as much as it protects the children.

Where I have a concern is that many who take the training think it is a "one shot" deal. It isn't set up that way. Virtus sends out monthly bulletins to be read. Again, they aren't rocket science, but they serve the purpose of reminding the adult that there are bad people out there, and our job is to protect not only our children, but all the children in the Church. They also provide a vehicle for spreading the word on situations unfamiliar to some older people where the children could be at risk, even though it doesn't seem immediately obvious. My second concern is that the Dioceses and parishes will think the training is "all" that is needed, and will no longer maintain the "official" review mechanism for investigating and dealing with the allegations that will inevitably continue to arise. Part of the reason for the widespread allegations of abuse of children is because the Church did not identify this as a real problem . . . until it was a huge problem.

Virtus may not be perfect . . . but it is one of the few alternatives available, and if the Diocese has elected this route, encourage them by attending, reflecting upon, commenting upon, and improving the program so that never again will we have to face a society that thinks we condone, or even worse, encourage, the sort of behavior that led to the introduction of the program.

[ardillacid]

[quote name='StMichael' post='964197' date='Apr 28 2006, 12:15 PM']
Who is the creating company and how do you know it has ties to planned infantcide?

Please let me know as soon as you can.

thanks.
[/quote]
[url="http://www.catholicparents.org/Virtus.html"]http://www.catholicparents.org/Virtus.html[/url]