PROTECTION OF MINORS FROM ABUSE

The Salesian Psychological Association (SPA), South Asia, in collaboration with the National Biblical, Catechetical, and Liturgical Centre, Bangalore organized a Seminar on “Protection of Minors: Implications for Church Institutions” from12th to 15th December 2015.

The organization of the Seminar was led by the secretary of the SPA, Raja Dhonti, and former secretary, Jose Parappully and the director of NBCLC, Sagaya John.

Members of 22 congregations and dioceses participated in the four-day Seminar.

The following made presentations at the Seminar: Thangam George and Sheila Devaraj from Bangalore (Prevalence and Attitudes Toward Sexual Abuse of Children), Jose Parappully from Delhi (Protection of children from Sexual Abuses Act 2012, CBCI Policy on Protection of Minors, 2015, Healing from the Effects of Sexual Abuse), John Tharakan from Hyderabad (Ethics and Boundaries Related to Sexuality and Care of Children, Indian Laws Related to Sexual Offences) and Noel de Sa from Mount Abu (Setting Up and Following Policies and Procedures).

Even though the primary target audience was Catholic Bishops and Major Superiors of Religious Congregations, only one Major Superior attended. The participants were mostly those working with children or those involved in the formation (training) of priests and religious.

WORKSHOPS IN BANGALORE

Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity

The Director of Sumedha Centre, Jose Parappully, did two workshops in Bangalore at the beginning of the month.

The first was at the Don Bosco Provincial House, Bangalore, on Psychosexual Integration and Celibate Maturity. The participants were Rectors of Communities and Leaders of various Provincial Commissions. There were around 45 participants for this two-day workshop on August 3 and 4.

Themes explored during the workshop included: Psychosexual Integration and Emotional Maturity, Sexual Orientation and Sexual Behaviours, Sexual Boundary Violations, Psychosexual Integration at Midlife and Beyond, and Celibate Friendship.

Participants found the workshop “very, very useful.”  They “gained very practical information and insights.”

One said this was the “most useful of the workshops I have attended.” Another who had two other workshops on the theme said “this was the best. This helped me to understand these important issues better and given me ways and means to explore them with my trainees in more effective ways.”

Basic Counselling Skills Training

The second workshop was a six day affair, from 5^th to 10^th August. This Basic Counselling Skills Training workshop was held at National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC), Bangalore.

There were 43 participants from different parts of the country. Most of them were leaders of communities or involved in formation work.

Participants found the training extremely useful. There was “an excellent blend of theory and practice.” The training, the participants said, had given them “both confidence and competence” by helping them develop required attitudes and skills.