What is one principle that you would like to learn more about? Why? by Mary Ellen D'Intino

the systems approach

2025-01-15 18:40:26 UTC

The systems approach. My sense is that our church in all of its local environments would benefit from leaning into the fact that safeguarding requires a "systems" approach, not merely the approach excellent and dedicated professionals might make in a safe environment office. We do need those leaders. Yet, the system needs to be onboard, other offices and laity need to onboard and identify their particular niche in the safeguarding enterprise and then identify how they can connect with, liase with, and empower all/most other offices together to create the enhanced culture of safeguarding. The Universal Guidelines Framework from the Pontifical Commission seems to lean into the direction of this "systems" approach.

Strengthening Organizational Culture

2025-01-21 14:16:52 UTC

I see organizational culture as instrumental to the success of any changes developed in child protection and healing. If child protection and healing departments are looked at as departments that are addressed only when there is a problem to be resolved, the true culture of child protection and healing has not changed. How have other Dioceses moved from a situation like this towards this model? What roadblocks have you faced?

Strengthening Organizational Culture

2025-01-27 17:29:29 UTC

I struggle with this as well from my position within the organization. I wonder how I can help the organization move toward a culture of safety. But I understand that we all have a role, no matter how small in making this work.

Getting leadership onboard

2025-02-07 21:08:23 UTC

I struggle getting some of our leadership to recognize that the "old ways" of dealing with the abuse (ie very little transparency) is something that is still causing harm to our diocese. There seems to be a general lack of openness to communicate anything (even which parish the Bishop is out visiting on any given weekend) and this mentality continues to foster the mistrust that the parishioners have towards the diocese and the church as a whole.

2nd Set of Principles - Containment

2025-02-09 20:23:24 UTC

I would like to learn more about the principle of containment, if there is a set of rules or procedures to help with this. We had an issue at one of our high schools. The problem was with the containment of the issue. It seems as if our high schools operate a little differently than our other schools. I would like more direction with this principle.

Strengthening Organizational Culture

2025-02-10 20:03:29 UTC

I struggle with a few schools who want to make their own rules and not follow diocesan policy. I have heard multiply times that we know these people, they are good people, why are we making more work for them. Parents are busy enough, we don't have time for all of this, or one more thing a busy teacher must complete. I have even heard that we are being punished because of a few bad priests. My goal would be that when someone trains they see how this can be important in so many situations, not just at a school or church. I'd like to have the support of all of the priest in the diocese as well as at all of our schools.

Strengthening the Culture of Safe Environment

2025-09-17 21:33:21 UTC

Although I have had this role for a couple years now, my predecessor gave me no training and I have consistently ran into the same problem that when I ask for more resources or help it's not taken seriously. Not only do I do Safe Environment but I am an administrative assistant for 4 other departments wrapped into one. I have consistently stated that Safe Environment needs to be it's own separate department because there's barley enough time in the day for me to do my job let alone a good job. I think that by getting leadership onboard to realize the true importance of this role that I would greatly benefit from that and so would everyone else.

Module 1: Preoccupation with Failure

2025-09-25 17:20:18 UTC

I would like to learn more about the principle of preoccupation with failure. As the Safe Environment Coordinator, my work focuses primarily on the prevention of abuse, making us a decidedly proactive office. However, I am intrigued by the idea of becoming even more proactive through a preoccupation with failure. By utilizing this principle, we could better identify gaps that exist in our current program, and further prevent failures from occurring. I would like to learn more about how this has been successfully implemented at other diocese, best practices for accomplishing this, and more detailed information from those who manage and oversee HROs regarding this principle.

Reflections on Leadership and Accountability

2025-10-03 20:09:34 UTC

What I would like to know is how we can strengthen our processes so that the background checks are never skipped, even when someone is well known or trust by a leader. I believe most of this decisions comes from good intentions, but without consistency, important safeguards can be overlooked. It would be helpful to know if there are any checks in place to make sure all requirements are complete before someone begins serving, so that our community remain safe and protected.

Better identify risks

2026-01-19 02:22:13 UTC

It feels that we have done so much to identify and mitigate potential risks, issues still occur. I recognize and praise God that the incidence rate is so much lower with all of the training and safeguards in place, but the "Journey to Zero" seems so utopian at times. It is easy to get complacent in thinking we are doing all we can. Perhaps due to sin nature, zero is not realistic, but continuing to strive for new and innovative ways to train, educate, empower, and work with seminarians and clerics will lead to further reduction of risk and unfortunate harm.

Reluctance to Simplify

2026-01-21 17:38:47 UTC

Very well-intentioned people, even some in roles of leadership are seeking to create systems that have fewer barriers for those who wish to be involved with the church. Especially for those who are volunteering. Unfortunately, this leads to lowered accountability as checks and balances are not kept in place. By being deliberate and carrying out the specified processes that keep everyone subject to sets of standards we are saying that we are aware of what has happened, and we will never let it happen again. I am interested in learning more about the reluctance to simplify so that I can fully express the intentionality it takes to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe in a world that seems to have become more lackadaisical when it comes to following the rules that reduce risk for harm

Commitment to Resilience

2026-01-23 20:48:02 UTC

It can be a challenge to respond quickly, we often want to know all of the information to make the best decisions. Also being able to analyze and evaluate how things have gone and what can improve can be a challenge when many issues take so long, that by the time it is over, the details can be fuzzy. Having a process to analyze the process in the midst of everything else, and also time to spend to prepare without an issue at hand are both so important.

New options for training/awareness

2026-02-06 19:49:56 UTC

I am curious where else I should be looking for new training material for our annual awareness that we require for people. The constant complaint is that we re-use material (we rotate a few options annually), and some years it is well received and others it isn't. It just seems difficult to find well made training material that is not too scandalous, not too cheesy, yet really gets to the heart of the issues and brings people to an awareness of the seriousness of sexual abuse and boundary violations.

Cultural "Buy-In"

2026-02-09 18:00:06 UTC

One principle I would like to learn more about is how leaders can effectively build a strong culture of accountability without creating fear or resistance. I’m interested in this because, in Safe Environment work, it’s important for people to feel supported and engaged rather than overwhelmed by policies. Learning how to balance clear expectations with encouragement could help strengthen commitment to prevention and make safeguarding feel like a shared mission instead of a burden.

Pooling resources

2026-02-10 20:15:13 UTC

could we pool the best stuff from one diocese and pass it to the next- especially those who have written your own materials and thus are not part of a copyrighted program

Commitment to resilience

2026-02-11 18:07:39 UTC

While I am immensely blessed to be in a diocese that takes safe environment and allegations as a top priority, I wonder about the ability to respond quickly and effectively to events of harm when they occur - specifically in the way of non-clerics for victim/survivor needs another avenue of support apart from the pastor leader meetings being offer/taken.

Also, the diocese response and some form of pastoral support offered even if an allegation is unable to be proven, is deemed unsubstantiated, or does not rise to the level of abuse (such as a boundary violation) all cases of abuse and misconduct, not just those committed by clergy.

Servant leadership

2026-02-11 22:08:48 UTC

One principle I would like to learn more about is servant leadership.
I find this principle meaningful because it focuses on putting the needs of others first and helping them grow, succeed, and feel valued. Instead of leading through authority or control, servant leadership emphasizes empathy, listening, and support. This approach can build stronger teams, healthier workplaces, and deeper trust. Learning more about it would help me better understand how to create positive environments where people feel respected, motivated, and empowered to do their best.

adverse

2026-02-24 21:09:52 UTC

To reduce the risk of adverse events one has to keep adverse events in the forefront. I find this gets met with resistance since we want to go past the negative to all the positive we do... YET being prepared to respond actually helps us keep the focus of the good we do...