Joining Together to Protect God’s Children

Sex Abuse Prevention Programs Combine Best Practices with Continuous Improvement

The Diocese of Tulsa is among the nation’s leaders in responding to the child sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church and is well on the way to fully implementing the Protecting God’s Children™ programs and other elements of the VIRTUS^® programs. These programs were developed over the last five years by The National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc. (National Catholic), a not-for-profit organization that provides risk control services to approximately one-third of the Catholic dioceses across the country.

Unbeknownst to many, the Diocese of Tulsa has had an inside track in the effort. The AGOS GROUP, LLC, a Tulsa-based risk management company has overseen development of National Catholic’s program dating back to 1997. In 1998, the National Catholic board appointed an ad hoc committee to work with the nation’s premier child sexual abuse experts to develop prevention and response programs. Sharon Doty, a long-time Tulsa resident and lifelong Catholic is a consultant on the project and has organized and directed the work of these experts for the last four years.

The Diocese implemented this VIRTUS program in March, 2007, and since then more than 8,300 people from around the Diocese have attended a session. 

All diocesan volunteers and employees are required to attend a session, and parents and grandparents are encouraged to attend as well.