Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis: "Safe Environments" and Sexuality Education should be taught together

Sr. Fran Donnelly, BVM, Director of the Protection of Children and Youth Inititiative for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, recently sent out this e-mail to all catechetical leaders and those involved in teaching "safe environments" in our Catholic schools and religious education classes.

We have stated for months about our concern that we are introducing scary and deviant sexual scenarios to our young children which may well shatter their innocence. Addtionally, many have expressed concern that there may be an alternative agenda since many of the themes found promoted in VIRTUS and "Talking About Touching" look all too familiar to those promoted by Planned Parenthood and SIECUS.

Now we read in Sr. Fran Donnelly's January 2007 e-mail broadcast that not only does Teresa Kettlekamp, Executive Director - Office of Child and Youth Protection for the USCCB, the unname auditor who was recently at the chancery office, as well as Fr. McGlone who wrote the high school "safe environments" program "Safe and Sacred Spaces," all believe that we need to link sexuality with safety instruction. This will all play out over the next several years as more and more "sexuality" information is taught to young child from pre-K to fourth grade.

From Sr. Fran Donnelly's January e-mail broadcast:

"Both (Teresa Kettlekamp and the unnamed auditor) affirmed Fr. McGlone’s advice that there is a need for both Catholic sexuality discussions and protection themes. Even though the audit only focuses on protection, it cannot be an either/or curriculum decision in our parishes and schools. Actually, we are hearing the same concerns being voiced by many of you and will be attempting to work through these challenges with you."

And you thought the "Safe Environments" initiative really was all about protecting our children?