As part of the continued effort in creating awareness about child abuse in Dominica the Social Welfare Division and the Child Abuse Prevention Unite held a consultation with religious leaders on Monday.
The consultation took place at the Dominica Public Services Union building on Valley Road.
Chief Welfare Officer, Leroy Morvan, said both the Welfare Division and leaders of faith based organization will benefit from the consultation.
“Not only the Social Welfare Division will benefit from the outcome of this workshop, but faith based organizations will also benefit immensely from this workshop, if the church becomes aware of its role and also takes on its responsibility as church in dealing with matters of child abuse in Dominica,” he said.
He noted the division will seek to take a more proactive role in addressing the scourge of child abuse which seems to be plaguing Dominica’s society and, “to decide on action to be finally implemented in order to deal with the situation.”
“I know in Dominica we have a very friendly society as far as religion is concerned, but we have been hearing all over the world of how some religious persons take advantage of children who are innocent…” he said.
Morvan stated that one of the roles of the church should be to guide children through primary socialization, to understand the concept and values that society considers as norms, and to help apply sanctions based on social cultural expectations that have been affected.
“There are indications however that the church is seemingly failing in that regard,” he said. “As more and more children become affected we see the need for greater harmony among faith based organizations as well as with other subsystems.”
Morvan believes that one of the goals of Monday’s proceedings is to enhance the faith based organizations perception of its services as far as child abuse is concerned and that all religious practitioners will be “responsive” and “credible” to the recommendations that will be made.
“It is also believed that this would help minimize, if not eradicate, child abuse within faith based organizations, hence minimizing hopelessness and building self esteem among our nation’s children,” he stated.
Meantime Coordinator of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit, Jemma Azille-Lewis said the religious community definitely has a role to play in the care and protection of children.
“Sadly our children are being abused by various forms of abuse, almost on a daily basis which includes; physical abuse, child neglect to abandonment, sexual abuse, emotional abuse,” she stated. “Sadly children are abused by persons they know and trust, and those who are supposed to be their protectors, end up being their abusers.”
Azille- Lewis said she expect that at the end of the consultation religious officials will be better positioned in terms of gaining more knowledge on child abuse and have a clearer understanding of their role and responsibilities on the matter of child abuse.
“As leaders you are seen as front-line workers, not only in your church but also in your community,” she stated. “Persons come to you for advice, look up to you and respect you because you are seen as someone who has a personal relationship with God and one who may have the answers. It is hoped that you take the opportunity seriously and that you will create even a greater awareness on the issue of child abuse and will also implement programs and activities in your congregation and in your community targeting the issue of child abuse.”
According to her, Children are gifts from God and as such, “we have a moral and spiritual responsibility to protect the gift that God has placed in our lives.”
Who feels it knows it ,i was abused by a priest at the roseau cathedral,a pastor who is now no more a pastor was scratching the palm of my hands when i was a child ,almost every time after service when he was shaking people’s hands at the door, when i grew older i found out that was sexual,the man who replaced that same pastor when the pastor could not come to church raped me on many occassions as a child,in those days adults would never believe a child if that child would report rape ,it was the child’s word against the adult’s,and the kids would always be the looser…when i grew up ,i called my rapist to let him know that i am about to let the world know what he did to me ,he told me that was long ago ,i should learn to forgive and forget,,months after he died of a heart attack before i had time to report him,,,most of the religious leaders are sheep in wolves clothing,even the pope was on the news for child trafficking,he was never punished ,,it is a corrupted system…be…
Wey Papa, Is this a case of putting the cat to guard the butter?
Exactly ,no way it could be said better ,,,i can these “priests pastor cats lapping the butter..
Consultation here and Policies flying left, right and centre yet nothing is being done or achieved. Personally I think these jobs worth just love having a meeting for meetings sake. When is the next time should we have a consultation or meeting so we can organise the next consultation/meeting?
That is what I am seeing cause I am sure Dominicans would agree with me that there is absolutely no progress despite a plethora of policies, consultation and meeting. Get a grip people, stop having useless meeting and get to the heart of the problem
Leaders of faith-based organizations have made serious mistakes in past decades where the abuse (especially sexual abuse) of minors is concerned, so it’s good that the present generation of leaders can come together and work with integrity and accountability to prevent any repeat of the horrible crimes of yesteryear–of that era when church leaders were more interested in safeguarding the name of their organizations than in securing the welfare of the next generation. Good initiative, Morvan and Azille-Lewis!
Faith based organisations are in a great place to help those who have been hurt by child abuse in all its forms. Victims often turn to God’s representatives on the earth for healing and comfort and need the Heavenly Father all the more when their earthly father figure has hurt, violated or abandoned them. However no denomination is exempt from sin and the flesh is not to be trusted. Please do not assume that because someone is in church leadership you should trust them with your child. If you ever feel uneasy because someone wants alone time with your child put a stop to it.
http://www.d2l.org/site/c.4dICIJOkGcISE/b.6243681/k.86C/Child_Sexual_Abuse_Prevention_Training.htm
The reason why the Church does not get involved, the government is the one to implement laws. The government could be lobbied to do so, not only by the churches but by all concerned including other nationals, the very critics on this Website. Child abuse is everyone’s business and not only a segment of this society.
Parents are to educate their children accordingly. Some parents are in need of parental counseling; some could have been abused children.
The Social Service has contact with parents and children.
The police department (police) is aware of abuse cases.
The above mentioned authorities have an obligation to serve the people and ensure that child abuse is decreased and eradicated.
Why lay it on the Church and blame the Church? I can see that the Church can only speak of it during their sermons. This could be of help. However, the perpetrators are in need of help and rehabilitation. This is the government’s obligation through its different services.
All we need is humanism & a more secular society. Religion cannot be the answer since they have failed the people over & over again. Humanism will teach us that it’s insufferable to abuse children we don’t need religious charlatans to tell us
Neither do we need humanism to tell us that. We should know that.
It’s about time that religious leaders on the island came together and began addressing this issue instead of focusing on foreign artist and their demons. Now that they have seen some light it’s time to get to work.
Parents must supervise their children at all times and teach them about inappropriate touching from an early age.
They must also ensure that their children and not placed in compromising situations with adults. It’s also important to set good examples for them.
100% in support of that statement……….ell said Ismael…….well said….
Very simple and to the point..
The problem of sexual child abuse is a serious one in my own country (Canada). Please do not think my comments are limited to the people of Dominica. Your NGO and government agencies are responding. If everybody does their part this battle can be won.
This is a battle against the forces of evil not a popularity contest. Many years ago I enlisted in heaven’s army to serve the King of Glory not to make people like me.
I congratulate Leroy Morvan and Jemma Azille-Lewis for their work. They are giving us an example of what can be done. Our church leaders in Canada also need to be challenged. There is a need to listen and learn from one another. Rally the troops and let every one do what he (she) can do!
Be encouraged. I have read last chapter of the book. It says we win!
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
The premier of Ontario is a self-proclaimed lesbian who is promoting the gay lifestyle and sexual education in schools. You know that many parents oppose it to the point of protesting at Queens Park and elsewhere and by withdrawing their children from school. Were you one of those who voted for that Provincial Party which means a vote for her? Did you write her opposing it?
They are not concerned about teaching children discipline, love and respect for others but this? Shame on her and those who support her.
When they leave school or drop out of school, some will become criminals. Do they teach about obeying the Law, being fruitful future citizens and to assist the economy? Oh no, they don’t!
Government has a rigid law in place to arrest child and adult abusers, if reported. It is the responsibility of parents, Social Welfare Division, Children’s Aid Society, Catholic and Jewish ones in this Province/Country, ample of them, why the church may not get involved.
The Facts:
Thank you for your comments and thank you for asking if I voted for Ontario’s present lesbian premier.
Sarah my wife of over 50 years and myself take an uncompromised stand for Biblical morals and values.
We did not vote for this woman nor her party. We have never voted for her party because it is pro abortion and pro gay. It is hell bent on destroying the morals of our youth through the public school system.
My written articles have been published in over 40 newspapers and magazines in Canada and the U.S.A. I address the social issues of the day from a Biblical perspective with same hard hitting approach I do when writing for DNO.
I have preached on radio, and television in Ontario, and to a Sunday morning congregation of 600 – 700 people in Brampton, Ontario.
I did not write to the premier because my letter would mean nothing to her. Rather I try to reach the public.
Blessings.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Every organization – governmental and non-governmental – that has an interest in the wellbeing of children should involve itself in the battle against sexual child abuse. This includes churches of every denomination. The problem is complex enough to require knowledgeable people on many fronts who will attack the enemy from different directions.
As an ordained minister in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (over 1,100 churches from coast to coast in Canada) and thousands more in our mission fields around the world) I believe the churches should publically teach the moral code God has given us in the New Testament that forbids fornication (elicit sex) which is all sex outside marriage, (Matthew 19:4-6,) (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, and vs. 18) This includes sexual child abuse.
The churches should instruct their members to report to the police immediately any case of sexual child molestation they become aware of.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.