By JoLynn Ryan Krempecki
Correspondent

The safety of children is a priority in the Diocese of Metuchen. That was the message that came through loud and clear during a recent meeting for youth ministers in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway.

More than two dozen individuals attended the Sept. 15 event to learn more about policies and procedures surrounding criminal background checks for all church personnel and volunteers who work with children.

Lawrence V. Nagle, director of the diocese’s new Office of Child and Youth Protection, will work closely with Kevin Early, director of the diocesan Office of Youth Ministry and Young Adult Ministry, on verifying the backgrounds of those serving in youth ministry.

With more than 28 years experience in the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office, Nagle is well aware of the means and methods used to identify persons who are capable of causing harm to children.

"I spent 20 years working in the area of prosecuting major crimes like homicide," he told attendees. "I spent my last years of civil service prosecuting and investigating sex crimes and abuse. I have seen the worst there is." Nagle noted that for the past year he has worked very closely with Msgr. William Benwell, vicar general and moderator of the curia, to move forward with the diocesan commitment to protect children from those who might harm them in any way.

"Know that our bishop is committed to this important initiative," he added. "We have to keep our children protected. Sick people seek out the vulnerable, and it is our duty to find out who those people are. If we miss the signs, it is too late."

The diocese will soon be instituting mandatory fingerprinting, as well as state and federal background checks for anyone involved with children in church programs, including directors of religious education, youth ministers, clergy and many others.

Nagle projects that the entire program will be "off the ground before the end of the year." Following the first initiative in checking personnel and volunteers, he said there would most likely be re-checking every three to four years. 

In the meantime, there are steps that can be taken immediately to protect children, Nagle explained. Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused in any way has a moral and civil obligation to report that abuse to the authorities, he said.

"The child abuse laws of New Jersey say that failure to report is a disorderly person offense," Nagle stated. "New Jersey is currently planning to increase that liability."

Volunteers and personnel in the diocese are required to report suspicions of child abuse or neglect to both Nagle and to the NJ Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS).

Joanne Ward, director of the diocesan Office of Communications and Public Relations, offered an explanation of the Virtus program, Protect God’s Children, which is currently being implemented throughout the diocese. This program, which is being used in 75 dioceses nationally, has been a proven and powerful tool for training clergy, parents and volunteers. According to Ward and Nagle, the training provides them with the right questions to ask, alerts them to subtle signs of abuse and teaches them the protocol of action they need in such cases.

Early ended the meeting with an extensive question and answer session, which again stressed the need to protect the diocese’s youth.

"We need to do what is reasonable and appropriate," Early said. "We are concerned for our kids from the time they leave home for our programs and until they return home. We need to emphasize that we care."