Dear Mrs. Grayson,
Thank you for your contribution toward developing the Diocese of Baker’s (Ardor, Inc.) film series for parents called “Strong Families: Safe Children.” This series is in keeping with the Church’s concern about fostering strong Catholic families and educating parents regarding issues which affect their children’s well being and safety. The program respects the Catholic Principle of subsidiarity which recognizes that parents are the prime educators of their children and that, in such delicate matters, hardly anyone can substitute. We take seriously the recent report of the Catholic Medical Association, entitled “To Protect and To Prevent” which says that “Numerous university research studies have concluded that child-empowerment programs, despite the best of intentions, do not prevent the sexual abuse of children; they are not consistent with the science of child development; and they are not in accord with Church teaching on the education of children in human sexuality and the protection of the innocence of children.”
“Healthy Families: Safe Children” is not only consistent with the Magisterium, it is developed for parents only,(though some parents may find it useful to share with their teens) and in that sense it collaborates with Veil of Innocence’s first objective which is of course, to do no harm to innocent children.
Thank you for your work on behalf of children and thank you for your gift to the Diocese of Baker earmarked for “Strong Families: Safe Children.”
Asking every good grace and blessing of God upon you, I am
+Robert F. Vasa
Bishop of Baker