South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, April 2, 2004 Page: 2 of 20
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diocese
April 2, 2004
2
South Texas Catholic
Letter tke editor
Children lost in a sea of abuse
By Georgina Stark
Associate Editor
A child in Texas is abused or neglected
every 12 minutes. A child in Texas is
born into poverty every seven minutes.
A child in Texas dies before his/her first
birthday every four hours. A child or
teen in Texas is killed by gunfire every day. More than
one in five children in Texas have no medical insurance.
In 2002, the rate of confirmed victims of child abuse
in Nueces County was almost double that of the State
of Texas. From 1994 to 2001, family violence reports
increased 10.5 percent in Texas and 65.9 percent in the
City of Corpus Christi.
The recent scandal in the Catholic Church of clergy
sexually abusing minors has brought to light a devastat-
ing and horrifying situation which had been well-hidden
for decades. While this issue in the church is a very seri-
ous one, we should not be so naive as to think that most
abuse happens in the church - it does not, it happens in
homes, often within families.
The number of victims abused by clergy are small in
comparison to the staggering number of children abused
every day in their own homes by members of their own
family or family friends.
A total of 10,667 people reported being abused by a
priest between 1950-2002 in the US. Child Protective
Services (CPS) confirmed there were 47,409 victims of
child abuse in 2002 in Texas alone, with many more
cases that go unreported.
The scandal in the church should be used to open our
eyes to the treatment of children outside of the church -
children that, may literally be, playing in our own back
yards.
Spaulding for Children, a non-profit adoption agency,
currently has approximately 182 abused, neglected or
abandoned children in the Corpus Christi area awaiting
On the cover:
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is depicted in a
contemporary enamel work by German artist Egino
Weinert. Easter, the feast of the Resurrection, is
marked April 11 this year. It is the oldest and most
important Christian celebration.
CNS photo courtesy Creator Mundi
St. Anthony Church of Violet
Spring Bar-B-Que
April 25, 2004
Plates-To-Go-Only
Hwy 44 at County Rd. 61
Bar-B-Q Chicken Dinner
Serving 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Donation $6 per plate.
All proceeds to build new Par-
ish Hall
For information call 387-4310 or 387-4434
adoption. About 3,800 children are waiting across Texas.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates, who
advocate in court for abused or neglected children,) are
currently working with close to 1,000 cases in Nueces
County of abused or neglected children.
The Nueces County Children’s Advocacy Center
reported a 42.3 percent increase in victims served from
1997 to 2002, with 85 percent of cases being that of
sexual abuse.
Driscoll Foundation Children’s Hospital reported a
127.3 percent increase in child abuse victims in this area,
treated from 1994 to 2000.
A 2003 study by Dr. Philip Roades - a professor of
criminal justice at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, tells us
that the statistics for child abuse are significantly higher
in Corpus Christi compared with the rest of the state.
So whatever we are doing, or more likely not doing, it’s
not working and each day another “lost child” ends up a
statistic with CPS, in foster care, a half-way house, the
court system or waiting for adoption.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Vita Bracco,
who trains volunteers for CASA believes the most im-
portant thing we need to do is educate people - educate
them how serious a problem child abuse is in this area,
how to recognize the signs of a child being abused, what
to do when you suspect a child is being abused and how
CPS works so people don’t get frustrated if they don’t
take action right away.
In Texas, if you suspect child abuse you are legally
required to report it to the police or CPS. Unless it is an
emergency, CPS will likely not take action right away
but the information is recorded and, based on a number
of factors, the case will be assigned a priority level for
investigation. Reports of suspected child abuse should be
made to the CPS Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400.
As we celebrate Easter in our homes and churches, let
us be reminded this month that child abuse is a crime
against our humanity and a sin against God. We must
realize its prevalence in this diocese and the importance
of educating ourselves on how to fight child abuse, for
the sake of all children who need a voice.
(Statistics from Dr. Philip Roades - Texas A&M-Corpus
Christi, the Children’s Defense Fund and CASA.)
South Texas Catholic
Bishop
Edmond Carmody
Publisher
Georgina A. Stark
Associate Editor
Father Paul Hesse
Theological Consultant
Paula J. Goldapp
Editor
Joe P. Hardeman
Advertising Representative
H
The South Texas Catholic cannot beheld liable, or in any way responsible
for the content of any advertisement appearing within these pages. All
claims, offer guarantees, statements, etc.,'madeby South TexasCatholic
advertisers are solely the responsibility of the advertiser Deceptive
or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints
regarding advertising should be made directly to the advertiser or to
the Better Business Bureau.
(ISSN 0745-9343)
Published semi-monthly Jan. 1-Dec, 31; by the Diocese: of Corpus Christi
for $12 per year. Office address: 620 Lipan., Corpus Christi, TX 78401,
(361) 882-61 91, FAX (361) 883-2556. E-mail: stc@diocesecc.org. Periodical
postage paid in Corpus Christi,Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes
to SOUTH TEXAS CATHOLIC, 620 Lipan, Corpus Christi, TX 78401-2434.
Bishop’s Calendar
April 2004
April 2 - Corpus Christi, Chancery, Department Head Staff Mtg.,
9:30 a.m; Corpus Christi, Chancery, Staff Mass, 11:30 a.m; Corpus
Christi, St. Thomas the Apostle, Penance Service, 7:00 p.m.
April 3 - Corpus Christi, Cathedral, Convalidation Ceremony, 11:00
a.m; Falfurrias, Sacred Heart, Mass and blessing of shrine, 6:00 p.m.
April 4 - Corpus Christi, Our Lady of the Rosary, Mass, 10:00 a.m;
Corpus Christi, Cathedral, Vespers and Seder Meal, 5:30 p.m.
April 6 - Corpus Christi, Chancery, Bishop’s Guild Mtg. 8:30 a.m;
Corpus Christi, Cathedral Hall, Priests’ afternoon of reflection,
4:00 p.m; Corpus Christi, Cathedral Hall, Supper with priests,
5:30 p.m; Corpus Christi, Cathedral, Chrism Mass, 7:00 p.m.
April 7 - Corpus Christi, Water Street, Diabetes Mtg., 7:30 a.m;
Corpus Christi, Chancery, Stewardship Council Mtg., 12:00 Noon;
Corpus Christi, Ortiz Center, Invocation at Chamber of Commerce
Dinner, 6:00 p.m.
April 8 - Corpus Christi, Mount Tabor Convent, Priest Appreciation
Luncheon, 12:00 Noon; Corpus Christi, Cathedral, Holy Thursday
Mass, 7:00 p.m.
April 9 - Good Friday, Chancery closed; Corpus Christi, Cathedral,
Good Friday Services, 12:00 Noon
April 10 - Corpus Christi, Cathedral, Easter Vigil Mass, 7:30 p.m.
April 11 - Corpus Christi, Cathedral, Easter Mass, 9:30 a.m.
April 12 - Orange Grove, St.John of the Cross, Confirmations,
6:00 p.m.
April 13 - Corpus Christi, Kenedy Memorial Foundation Executive
Committee Mtg., 8:00 a.m.
April 14 - Corpus Christi, Bayfront Auditorium, Lyceum, 5:30 p.m.
April 15 - Corpus Christi, Catholic Charities Mtg.., 12:00 Noon;
Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Pilar, Confirmations, 7:00 p.m.
April 16 - Corpus Christi, Chancery, Diocesan Building Board Mtg.,.
12:00 Noon
April 18 - Ben Bolt, St. Peter Mission, Mass, 10:45 a.m; Corpus
Christi, St. Patrick’s, Msgr. Higgins 50th anniversary Mass, 3:00 p.m.
April 20 - Corpus Christi, Bishop’s Residence, Media Reception,
7:00 p.m.
April 21 - Corpus Christi, Chancery, Presbyteral Council Mtg.,
10:00 a.m; Corpus Christi, Lawrence Wood’s residence, Bishop’s
Guild Spring reception, 6:00 p.m.
April 24 - Corpus Christi, Incarnate Word Convent, Mass for the
General Assembly of Women Religious, 2:00 p.m.
April 25 - Robstown, St.John Nepomucene, Mass, 11:00 a.m; Port
Aransas, Civic Center, 50th anniversary Mass for Msgr. Gregory
Deane, 4:00 p.m.
April 26 - Banquete, St. Michael the Archangel, Confirmations,
7:00 p.m.
April 27 - Corpus Christi, Incarnate Word Academy raffle supper,
6:30 p.m.
Give the Priceless Gift of Priesthood
Our seminarians today are your priests tomorrow...
Invest in them for the sake of your future!
Here is my contribution for the education of our future priests.
□ $5 □ $10 □ $25 □ $40 □ $50 □ $100 □ $500 □ Other
Name
Address_
City_
Make checks payable to Diocese of Corpus Christi Seminary Burse Fund and mail to:
Bishop Edmond Carmody
RO. Box 2620
Corpus Christi, TX 78403-2620
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Goldapp, Paula J. South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, April 2, 2004, newspaper, April 2, 2004; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth855687/m1/2/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .