On March 1, 2024, a new training experience promoted by the Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults of the Order will begin.
The objective is to train individuals who work and collaborate in the pastoral settings of the Augustinian Recollect family—educational centers, parishes, social works, and other ministries—about promoting good treatment and creating safe environments for children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults. The title of the course is Good Treatment, Prevention, and Repair of Abuse in Pastoral Settings.
This first edition is offered in Spanish and is aimed at religious and laypeople. In the words of Carmen Montejo, a member of the Commission, it aims to take a further step, "delving into the understanding of human vulnerability and sexual and non-sexual abuse in the Church—of power, of conscience, spiritual—as well as abuse of adults."
The course consists of five topics, which will be addressed monthly. The first will address the importance of understanding Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA). The second topic focuses on non-sexual abuse in the Church: of power, conscience, and spiritual, with an approach to adult victims. The prevention of abuse in the Church will be the subject of the third topic. The fourth will provide guidelines for accompanying victims and survivors of abuse in the Church. And the fifth topic will address the need for justice and reparation for victims with a restorative approach.
Each topic is accompanied by reading materials and deepening activities, as well as an online class. During the course, contributions will be made by Carmen Montejo, a family physician and member of the Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults of the Order of Augustinian Recollects; Mª Rosaura González Casas, a religious of the Company of Saint Teresa of Jesus, a teacher at the Institute of Psychology of the Pontifical Gregorian University, coordinator of the Care and Protection Commission of the CLAR; Francisco Javier Monroy, an Augustinian Recollect religious, general councilor of the Order, and responsible for permanent formation; Daniel Portillo, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chihuahua, and Regional Expert for the Americas of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors; and Mª Teresa Compte, president of the Association for the Reception and Accompaniment Betania to Victims of Sexual Abuse in the Church.
The coordination of the course is under the responsibility of Antonio Carrón and Carmen Montejo, members of the Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults of the Order.
Since its creation in 2019, the Commission has promoted awareness and training in the field of prevention and intervention in abuse situations. In addition to face-to-face training activities, online courses aimed at educators, catechists, volunteers of social projects, etc., have been promoted.
Through the In Imum Cordis Training School, two training experiences are currently offered: the Introduction Course to Safe OAR Environments, and the course entitled Good Treatment, Prevention, and Repair of Abuse in Pastoral Settings. More information about both can be found on the School's website: https://inimumcordis.org.
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