Bishop expresses sadness in light of arrest

By Diocesan Staff

The abuse of our children is one of the most difficult social problems that we as a Church attempt to address on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the magnitude of the task was made ever more clear two weeks ago, when police arrested Sacred Heart Cathedral School second grade teacher Tabitha Adams on charges including sexual exploitation of a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Zachary Noble, the ex-husband of another teacher at the school, was arrested on related charges in connection with the incident in the State of Nebraska. Noble’s ex-wife was not implicated. The arrests were made after a digital camera memory stick with pictures of two adults allegedly engaging in sexual activity with an 8-year-old child were delivered to the Dodge City Police Department. Police believe the photographs were taken at Nobles’ home in Falls City, Nebraska.

Adams had taught at Sacred Heart school for three years. She was suspended immediately following her arrest. She had attended the Protecting God’s Children Awareness Session required for all diocesan employees and had passed a criminal background check prior to being hired at the school.

At a Dec. 21 staff meeting at the chancery, Bishop Ronald Gilmore expressed his sadness that abuse, including the exploitation of children, appears to be so pervasive in our society, and that no community is immune. “I am most saddened that, despite all our efforts to educate our employees, volunteers and parishioners about how to detect and prevent abuse, another violation of innocence may have occurred,” Bishop Gilmore said. “As Benedict XVI said recently: to banish suffering from the world altogether is not in our power. None of us is capable of eliminating the power of evil, of sin, which is a constant source of suffering. We read and hear about such things with distressing regularity today.

“I am sad for everyone involved and affected,” he added. “As a community, we must all work together to protect our children.”

Bishop Gilmore commented that the Dodge City Police Department “moved swiftly to intervene in this case.”

While the outcome of the case is yet to be determined, the department’s “decisiveness” may have offered “enormous help in protecting a child,” Bishop Gilmore said.

According to Father Robert Schremmer, vicar general, the diocese has been assured that the child involved is receiving all appropriate assistance.

“We are attempting to cooperate fully with all the civil authorities in every way we can, and we do not want to interfere in any way,” he said. “We also stand ready to do whatever we can to assist authorities.”

For nearly 15 years, the Diocese of Dodge City has had a written policy in place for the protection of children. In 2002, in light of the scandals that arose across the country involving the abuse of children by clergy, the bishops of the United states drafted the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” and its companion legal document, “Essential Norms for Diocesan Policies…”

The Charter required that each diocese in the United States create a “safe environment” for its children and young people. In addressing this need, the Diocese of Dodge City developed a Safe Environment program which included revising and implementing a diocesan “Policy for the Protection and Young People” and developing a “Code of Pastoral Conduct.”

Our diocesan Safe Environment program contains two components: evaluation and education. Regarding the evaluation component, since June 2003 each employee and volunteer who has regular or ongoing contact with minors, whether new to the diocese or a long-time employee or volunteer, has been required to submit to a criminal background check. Regarding the education component, since June 2003 each employee and volunteer who has regular or ongoing contact with minors has been required to attend a “Protecting God’s Children” awareness session, a free three-hour program that includes dramatic video testimony by victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a person of trust, and testimony by the perpetrators themselves. The workshops are held throughout the year at various locations in both English and Spanish.

As a reinforcement of the information learned at the awareness session, participants are emailed bulletins throughout the year that include a scenario focusing on a particular aspect of child abuse, and highlighting signs to be watchful for to detect and prevent child sexual abuse.

Finally, since 2004 dioceses across the country have been audited to be sure they are in compliance with the Charter. In each of its audits, the Diocese of Dodge City has been found to be compliant.

However, Sister Janice Grochowsky, Chancellor and Safe Environment Coordinator, is quick to warn: “Being found compliant does not mean there isn’t work to be done. Every parish, school and youth program has new people becoming involved with the youth of the parish. It will take a concerted collaborative effort on the part of all adults to hold each other accountable for the part each of us plays in helping to keep our children and youth safe.”

“This incident is evidence of how important our safe environment programs, policies, and procedures are,” said Father Schremmer. “If there is one thing that I want to be more attentive to, it is the periodic bulletins that the 2,000-plus people in the diocese who have participated in our Protecting God’s Children Awareness Sessions receive. While these bulletins are not required by our Safe Environment Policy, they do provide ongoing and consistent reminders of what we need to be aware of in protecting children from exploitation, and how we can respond.”

In order that all parents know what to watch for in combating child sexual abuse, Bishop Gilmore suggested that they avail themselves to a Protecting God’s Children Awareness Training. Meeting times and dates are listed in the SKR, and at http://www.dcdiocese.org/Currentevents/pgfschedule.htm.

“If we know the signs, we can all join together in protecting our children,” the bishop said. He urged prayers for both the alleged victim and victimizers involved in the case.