Church Comic Warns Children Against Predators

THE New York Catholic Archdiocese is using comic and colouring books to warn children about sex predators, drawing criticism that the books fail to alert kids that priests may pose a threat.

The 28-page comic book Archangel, published in September, tells the story of a teenager who relies on St Michael the Archangel to report the sexual abuse of two female students at his high school by the father of one of their friends.

The book is designed for children over 10, and is being distributed to schools and religious education programs in New York, archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling said. It is also available free online.

Accompanying it is a colouring book for children under 10, available in English and Spanish.

"Its part of our much broader effort to help give children the information they need in order to keep themselves safe," Mr Zwilling said.

The books appeared several years after reports of widespread abuse of parishioners by Roman Catholic priests in Boston, Los Angeles and other cities, and received wide attention this week after being profiled in Newsweek magazine.

Carmen Durso, a lawyer who represents some of those victims, said the books took a moralising tone that might have the opposite effect of persuading children to report abuse.

"Theyre kidding themselves if they think theyre going to create with these things a situation where kids are going to talk to someone," Mr Durso said.

The books also failed to point out that sex offenders were likely to be people in trusted positions, including religious leaders, said David Clohessy, who added he was sexually abused by a parish priest as a child.

"Its appropriate for an audience of Catholic kids to be told that even Catholic priests and seminarians and bishops and nuns can do these things," he said.

"Usually adults who hurt kids arent strangers, but are grown-ups who you like and your parents trust and other adults trust."

Mr Zwilling said the books were meant to warn children of the danger in general, and at least one victims support group called them a good step.

"I can only applaud the diocese for their creativity," said John Moynihan, spokesman for Voice of the Faithful.

■Some 150 victims of pedophile priests in midwestern Iowa have won $US37 million ($A42.4 million) in damages. The deal, which was agreed on November 29, brings to an end all legal proceedings, in some cases dating back to the 1930s, against the Davenport Diocese, which has some 154 parishes in south-eastern Iowa.

The 156 victims would share the $US37 million, the diocese said in a statement posted on its website.

"The settlement provides the best opportunity for healing and for the just and fair compensation of those who have suffered sexual abuse by priests in our diocese," said Bishop Martin Amos.

REUTERS, AFP

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