In a recent development, The US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) office of child protection on Monday issued a 10 point list, outlining ways to prevent sexual abuse of children by clergy members.The simple child’s toy, the pinwheel holds more of learning and nearly 15,000 of the toy have been distributed statewide by Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Louisiana as the centerpiece of the new campaign, Pinwheels for Prevention.

The PCA Louisiana’s efforts to change the way the state thinks about Prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize right from the start to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur. Police Chief Jon Gott said, “Any time someone notices something unusual about any child they need to report it. What may seem to be not that important may be terribly wrong at home. They can call the police department and their names will be withheld and we will assign someone to check into it. No matter how small something is it may be very important and please do not be scared to get involved”.

Teresa Kettlekamp, director of the USCCB’s Secretariat for children and Young people said, “Background checks for anyone who might have contact with young children and teaching children’s guardians to spot a potential abuser through certain behaviors. However, the list does not place the blame for the sexual abuse of minors squarely on predator priests, whose alleged pedophile practices over several decades have plunged the Roman Catholic Church into crisis and led to calls for Pope Benedict XVI to resign.

Although the tips say the main victim of priest sexual abuse is the child victim, they add that the abuser is also affected by “this sin and crime, along with the family of the abused and the parish community” he said.