Difficult reading, to consider this entire thread. I survived 14 years of Catholic education, (Ursuline sisters), 8 years of Catholic summer camp (mostly Adrian, Michigan Dominicans) and never encountered any sexual impropriety firsthand, nor heard of it secondhand. Physical abuse peaked with Sr. Ancilla breaking flimsy hardware store wooden yardsticks while whacking at the young lads who vexed her.

It was only in later years that any of the sex abuse scandal touched me, and the fallout was the mandated sexual abuse training (VIRTUS) that I was required to take, as was every person in the Diocese of Cleveland, (clergy, religious, teacher, coach or volunteer) who would have contact with minors while associated with the church. While parts of it were educational, like pedophile "grooming" victims, other large parts of it made me deeply sad, as they were obviously rules designed so that there would be no way whatsoever that any accusations could stand against the adults. More than the "protecting God's children" it was clearly protecting the diocese's bottom line.

Some of the new rules about interaction tragically eliminated situations where some of the best mentoring could take place. Not touching a student without asking their permission gets weird when teaching anything physical - sports, arts, cooking, dance. Never being alone with a student without an open door- just how do you do that when you're helping her pin a close fitting garment she's trying on in clothing class?

The follow-up website work was disgustingly insulting of the intelligence of those of us required to take it. An aspect of the whole shebang that occurred to me was: someone is making a cartload of money with these mandated programs. I casually knew one of the priests who were cast out over sexual allegations; he'd been the priest at my wedding shortly after ordination. I thought him sweet and kind. Turns out he grew up to be a nasty martinet as a pastor & his staff were delighted to see him go for reasons that had nothing to do with sex & never found out what he was supposed to have done.

This spring I had to take a "refresher" that included updates in policy, particularly covering social media. I can be fired immediately should anything contrary to Catholic teaching shows up on any of my social media. There are things I will not "share" on Facebook & need to be careful who I let post on my page, because this situation is perfectly set up for a witch hunt that could cost me my job. I do not say that scrutiny should not happen, but I am sceptical of the cost (to the innocent)/ benefit (stopping abuse) analysis. The largest burden falls on the innocent & I do not know what metrics are used to judge the benefits- lack of lawsuits?

Joanne in Cleveland ( hoping the new bishop is s good as he seems)