The Diocesan safeguarding web pages can be found at

http://www.dabnet.org/safeguarding/SafeRecruitmentofVolunteers

Some thoughts from the Parish Pack by the Safeguarding Officer for the Diocese.

Theological principles - Safeguarding :

• Is essential to the Church's fulfillment of its calling and mission, given by Christ
• Is implicit in what Jesus intended when he said" feed my lambs, feed my sheep"
• Is essential if we are to introduce people effectively to relationship with God
• Is a sign of the kingdom - Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
• Safeguarding is an exercise of Charity and Justice
• Safeguarding helps the Church stay one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic
• Safeguarding reflects the loving nature of GodSafeguarding is an essential context for people to receive the sacraments and grow in discipleship

 Everday factors affecting risk

• Children attend churches in large numbers
• Sex offenders attend churches (20^%)
• Survivors attend churches
• Agencies do not always remember to provide churches with information or support
• Churches may be naive about risk

Why Churches find it difficult ...

”One issue is naivety, with church leaders being unaware of the compulsive nature of much sex offending, and the limitations of counselling. Another important issue is forgiveness. The confusion between forgiveness and trust is one reason why offenders have been allowed to continue in positions of pastoral responsibility even after it is known they have abused children. There are other reasons also for the Church’s failure to protect children properly. These include, denial, discomfort, Christian isolationism, confidentiality, spiritualising and concern for the preservation of marriages.”

Church affirmation

• The Catholic Church of England and Wales, the Bishops and Congregational Leaders are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church. We affirm the One Church approach to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults through the promotion of a sustained and sustainable culture of constant vigilance.

Undertaking

• The Church and individual members of it undertake to take all the appropriate steps to maintain a safe environment for all and to practice fully and positively Christ's Ministry towards children, young people and vulnerable adults and to respond sensitively and compassionately to their needs in order to help keep them safe from harm.

Duty to value

• Every human being has a value and dignity which we as Catholics acknowledge as coming directly from God's creation of male and female in his own image and likeness. This implies a duty to value all people and therefore to support them and protect them from harm.

 The good people who live honest lives will be a blessing to their children.

 Proverbs 20:7

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.

Philippians 1:3-6

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Theodore Roosevelt