Reporter sees abuse through eyes as mom

Chicago Tribune religion reporter Margaret Ramirez has written about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church; now, as a mother, she has taken the church's sex abuse prevention training program. She writes about the experience in today's Chicago Tribune. An excerpt:

At first, the idea was disturbing. My experience as a religion reporter had exposed me to the ugliness and pain of abuse. Thinking about my 4-year-old girls as potential victims cut like a knife, and a gush of anger, fear and helplessness came pouring out. Yet, the session I attended last week opened my eyes to the expanded duties of today's parents, as abuse lurks within and beyond the church. For Catholics, teaching and nurturing faith remain at the core of parents' mission, but we must also watch closely for predators, speak to children about touching and be bold enough to report abuse immediately.