Seminar on Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults (Civil and Ecclesiastical Perspective)
With an increasing number of sexual abuses of minor in the Catholic Church reported all around the world, it was an apt moment to host a seminar which brought in a lot of awareness and information regarding the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults. The Resource Persons, Rev. Fr. Edward Thomas SDB, and Mr. Anand Lobo, on 2nd of December 2016, deeply enumerated and elucidated on this theme at Darshan Institute of Theology. A warm and cordial welcome was extended to the November assembly by Rev. Fr. Salvador Fernandes, the Rector of the Institute of Theology. The seminar was attended by the religious men and women from the Kengeri Deanary as well as Brothers from Kripalya and all over the Province. In the keynote address, Rev. Fr. Andrew Anil Sequiera, brought to light in a nutshell the brief look at the statistics of abuse and the gravity of the problem in the Catholic Church. He also highlighted the need of broadening the perspective of the problem of abuse itself.

The much awaited input sessions by the Resource persons were done in 4 sessions.
The First session extensively dealt on:
1. Sexual Abuse of children by clergy- a retrospect
2. Norms for dealing with cases involving sexual abuse of Minors
3. Policy Guidelines of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults.

The second input session illumined and made clear to us the fallowing aspects:
1. What is Child Sexual Abuse
2. Questioner on Child Sexual Abuse

As a concluding note, Mr. Anand Lobo urged us to protect and minors and work for their welfare. Few questions were raised on this issue, to which the animator clarified and posed his suggestions and reflections. Fr. Arun Lobo the Organizer of the Seminar expressed the vote of thanks and thanked each and everyone for their active participation. The seminar concluded with the singing of our Institute Anthem. Everyone departed with smile and charm on their faces.

^TOP