The Archdiocese of San Antonio joins all the bishops of the United States in taking a strong and positive stand for the protection of children and youth. We are completely committed to the prevention of abuse through education. This is important to every Catholic to ensure that we are following the mandate of Jesus to "Let the little children come to me." All children must be safe from harm and respected in every Catholic parish, school, and institution.

We have instructed tens of thousands of children, kinder through high school, in child safety. One person, not even one archdiocese, can protect all children, alone. Abuse is an epidemic problem in our entire society, and we intend to do everything we can to stop it. We are also educating parents, clergy and those involved in ministry to children, in an effort to bring the important message of child protection to everyone who has the responsibility to safeguard the children in their care. I pledge that we will continue to work for the good of all children in the archdiocese.

We pray, through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, for the continued success of our programs of prevention, so that one day we will see an end to all abuse. We also pray that those who have been abused as children will feel the healing and loving touch of Jesus.

Archbishop José H. Gomez, S.T.D.

Steve Martinez, Director of the Office of Victim Assistance and Tracie Enriquez, Associate Director, regularly write informative and timely columns for Today’s Catholic newspaper, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

Click here to read their recent columns.