CINCINNATI - The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has issued a detailed list of inappropriate behaviors for priests, saying they should not kiss, tickle or wrestle children.

The newest version of the archdiocese's Decree on Child Protection also prohibits bear hugs, lap-sitting and piggyback rides.

But it says priests may still shake children's hands, pat them on the back and give high-fives.

Victim advocates who have criticized the Roman Catholic archdiocese for its handling of abuse cases say they support the new measures as a step toward better protection of children.

The Cincinnati archdiocese says it updates the rules every five years. The latest version, issued last week, also mandates background checks for contractors working with children.

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Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati News | Cincinnati.Com

Wooooowwwww. Took them long enough.

I am thinking that there are some other things they may want to tell them not to do as well.

I was thinking the same thing, teh... but I suppose what they've done is a step in the right direction.

Well, I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, I can see why it's necessary. On the other hand, I'm sad that it's necessary, and I'm not just referring to priests but society in general.

In order to protect children, we're having to preclude normal, healthy touching between human beings. I know teachers who are afraid to give a child a heartfelt hug, for example. I wonder how much damage that is doing to all of us, individually and collectively.

"Set a new course. There's coffee in that nebula." -- Capt. Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager

That news item was a little different to what I expected from the subject.

Kitty, once more you have defined one of my philosophies very neatly. I developed the same view after hearing less and less good about the rules of conduct for teachers. I and probably much of my generation, and I daresay others, when we see a kid hurt or upset, instinctively incline towards an arm round a shoulder, a hug, wiping of tears or whatever may be appropriate. Teachers can't do that, and there's a list of other normal human interactions that require two adults present.

One aspect of course is child protection. The other is adult protection - no teacher or anyone working with kids wants to be accused wrongly of some offensive act.

Together with other things like kids growing up with electronic social exchanges because the streets are less safe, we are breeding future generations in isolation from comforting, encouraging and reassuring interaction.

I also can't help thinking that policing of every interaction stifles the development of our own moral and ethical development, from good manners to concern and empathy. There's a danger that one day all we will know about supporting and caring actions will be superficial theatrical crap from TV. As I've said elsewhere, PC provides "dot points" to follow rather than general tools for handling life. This is the same. We have laws already covering protection of children. Senior church, school and club staff and officials can certainly advise, but the bottom line is that if you hurt a kid the weight of the law should fall on you.

And this is where it fails, because child protection agencies (as we may also have mentioned elsewhere) are unresponsive and under resourced, and often just exist to provide careers for their own staff. This only leaves the police and legal system, which can't be expected to address social issues.