The new head of the U.S. bishops' youth protection office said that
the Catholic Church has the ability to challenge other groups in society
to improve their approach to preventing child sex abuse.
“We have an opportunity here to lead by example,” said Deacon Bernard
V. Nojadera, who was recently appointed as leader of the bishop
conference's Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection.
“Child sex abuse is not just a Church issue – this is a societal issue,” he told CNA in a June 10 interview.
A former director of the San Jose Diocese’s youth protection office
in California, Deacon Nojadera will begin his new position in
Washington, D.C. on August 15. He succeeds Teresa Kettelkamp, who has
headed the bishops' office since 2005.
The deacon brings a wealth of practical experience with him in his
new role, including his decades-long work with children who have been
abused and neglected.
“I've been blessed to become friends with some of the survivor
victims that I've worked with and they have shown me their journey
through their eyes,” he said.
“Those experiences have given me the ability to do what I have done
in the San Jose office. And I'll hopefully be able to carry that out
when I go to Washington, D.C.”
A husband and father of two who has served with the U.S. Marine
Corps, Deacon Nojadera said his work with child victims began after he
received a master's degree in social work from San Jose State University
in 1991.
After being hired at a local clinic, “I ended up getting assigned to
work with families and children,” specifically those who had been
neglected and or abused, he recalled. “That ended up being the bulk of
my work.”
Deacon Nojadera said that since news of sex abuse within the Church
broke in 2002, bishops in the U.S. Church have made dealing with the
issue a top priority – so much so, that others could benefit from their
example.
“What we have here is the ability to hopefully become change agents,”
he said. “To help create shifts in attitude, shifts in heart and mind
about the evil of abuse.”
The deacon said that leaders in the Church have taken practical
measures such as continually working to improve the 2002 Dallas Charter –
a set of procedures drafted by the bishops to address and prevent sex
abuse within the U.S. Church.
He said that bishops have also learned from past mistakes in dealing
with sex abuse cases and are on the societal forefront in pushing
dialogue on the issue.
“I think these have all been pluses as far as making the reality of child sex abuse a priority in the Church,” he said.
The deacon observed that despite the Church having the lowest number
of abuse cases as compared to other institutions across the U.S., one
incident is still “one too many.”
He also noted the Church's obligation to speak out against other societal ills, in addition to child sex abuse.
“I would be remiss to not acknowledge or identify the realities of
elder abuse, domestic violence, spousal abuse and fiduciary abuse,” he
said, adding that the Church's consistent stance against all forms of
abuse give it the “opportunity to influence” others.
In addition to his background in social work, Deacon Nojadera also
holds a master's degree in theology from St. Patrick's seminary in Menlo
Park.
He's also been a member of the San Jose Police Department’s Internet
Crimes Against Children Task Force, the YWCA Rape Crisis Center and the
County of Santa Clara Interfaith Clergy Project for Elder Abuse
Prevention.
He was ordained a deacon in 2008 and has headed the San Jose diocesan child protection office since 2002.
An impressive resume is just one of the aspects that have earned Deacon Nojadera the praise of his colleagues.
“Deacon Nojadera brings to this position valuable experience from many areas,” said Msgr. David Malloy, general secretary of the bishops' conference, who appointed him for the role.
“Deacon Nojadera brings to this position valuable experience from many areas,” said Msgr. David Malloy, general secretary of the bishops' conference, who appointed him for the role.
“He is a family man and trained social worker, who is familiar with
the church both at the parish and diocesan level and with law
enforcement. He understands the need for child protection services in
all areas.”
Diane Knight – chair of the National Review Board which oversees the
work of the bishops' child protection office – also expressed her
enthusiasm over the deacon's new position.
“Bernard Nojadera has the experience to understand the issues we face in the 21st century,” she said.
“Bernard Nojadera has the experience to understand the issues we face in the 21st century,” she said.
“The National Review Board looks forward to his
work in support of its efforts to assist the bishops in ensuring the
safety of children and young people in parishes and schools.”
Yet despite his life accomplishments and numerous qualifications for the role, Deacon Nojadera displays a tangible humility.
“I am just a servant – and I'm open and willing to go and do whatever needs to be done,” he told CNA.
He said that throughout his life journey, “I've had to learn quickly that it's not my plan – it's God's plan.”