Changes

The [[Roman Catholic Church]] has had problems with child abusers among its clergy.<ref>Authors unknown, "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1963716.stm Catholic child abuse fears widen]", ''BBC-Asia-Pacific'', British Broadcasting Corporation, May 2, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2007.</ref> The proportion of offenders within the clergy is impossible to determine, but the [[Vatican]] has publicly registered its concern.

The [[Roman Catholic Church]] has had problems with child abusers among its clergy.<ref>Authors unknown, "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1963716.stm Catholic child abuse fears widen]", ''BBC-Asia-Pacific'', British Broadcasting Corporation, May 2, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2007.</ref> The proportion of offenders within the clergy is impossible to determine, but the [[Vatican]] has publicly registered its concern.

==Precautions Against Molestation==

==Precautions against molestation==

The United States' Stop It Now! Foundation recommends 'the four R's' to limit children's vulnerability in at-risk situations. These include:

The United States' Stop It Now! Foundation recommends 'the four R's' to limit children's vulnerability in at-risk situations. These include:

'''Rules:''' discussing with your child the importance of rules for behaviour around others. (Note that this is not merely limited to 'stranger danger', but can be taught as 'circles of closeness'. An effective way to introduce this concept can be drawing your own diagram to show this (Mummy/Daddy, family, friends, strangers) and encourage them to create their own.

'''Rules:''' discussing with your child the importance of rules for behaviour around others. (Note that this is not merely limited to 'stranger danger', but can be taught as 'circles of closeness'. An effective way to introduce this concept can be drawing your own diagram to show this (Mummy/Daddy, family, friends, strangers) and encourage them to create their own.

'''Respect:''' explaining why the rules are necessary - your child has a right to feel safe, but so does everyone else.

'''Respect:''' explaining why the rules are necessary - your child has a right to feel safe, but so does everyone else.

'''Responsibility:''' the hard part - teaching your child to follow these rules through reminders and encouragement.

'''Responsibility:''' the hard part - teaching your child to follow these rules through reminders and encouragement.

'''Reading:''' encouraging your child's awareness of their social environment. Prevention is most effective when children learn to read the situation. If rules and a sense of self-respect are in place, your child is far more likely to let you know when they're troubled by someone's behaviour.

'''Reading:''' encouraging your child's awareness of their social environment. Prevention is most effective when children learn to read the situation. If rules and a sense of self-respect are in place, your child is far more likely to let you know when they're troubled by someone's behaviour.