Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
This is a link to the statement issued following the publication of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report on the Catholic Church: IICSA and the Catholic Church. It was published on 10th November, 2020.
The following link takes you to the Catholic Church’s Bishops’ Conference website where Cardinal Nichols speaks and the full report is to be found: Vincent Cardinal Nichols and the IICSA report
This page is under construction
The National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) and the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) have produced a number of information sheets under the heading of safeguarding. Below you will links to those documents.
What is safeguarding?
The NCSC and the CSAS have produced a comprehensive information sheet on safeguarding. By clicking this link you can open that document: Safeguarding.
What is abuse and neglect in adults?
In addition to the information above, the attached, while not not intended to be an exhaustive list of the different types of abuse and neglect suffered by adults, should be viewed as an illustrative guide as to the sort of behaviour which could give rise to a safeguarding concern. The view of what constitutes abuse or neglect should not be limited, as it can take many forms and the circumstances of the individual case should always be considered. Exploitation, in particular, is a common theme in the following list of the types of abuse and neglect.
By clicking this link you can open that document: Abuse and Neglect in Adults.
Domestic abuse
The Office of National Statistics recorded in March 2019 that some 2.4 million people experienced some form of domestic abuse (ONS Domestic Abuse statistics).
In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis highlighted the problem of domestic abuse, but, in particular, in his words, “the shameful ill-treatment to which women are sometimes subjected.” However, as he recognises, domestic abuse is not suffered only by women. Statistics show that one in four women and one in six men have suffered some form of domestic abuse.
These links provide more details on this topic. They are provided by CEDAR (Catholics Experiencing Domestic Abuse Resources). Its website can be accessed via this link CEDAR UK. This website has a list of helplines. You can also contact the office of the Episcopal Vicar for Marriage & Family Life, Fr Graham Preston, on 020 7237 2969.
Domestic Violence Specific Guidance
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
FGM knows no boundaries. It is not confined to a particular religion, creed or race. Traditionally, it has been carried out in countries in Africa and parts of Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. However, it is now practised globally. In the UK FGM is illegal.
As well as highlighting the evils of domestic abuse, Pope Francis condemns the practice of FGM. He calls both as depredations that have to be combated. In 2015 he said “The many forms of slavery, the commercialization, and mutilation of the bodies of women, call out to us to be committed to defeat these types of degradation that reduce them to mere objects that are bought and sold …,”
The Catechism, CCC 2297, says “except when performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly intended amputations, mutilations and sterilisations performed innocent persons are against the moral law”.
The attached gives details of FGM. These are graphic and the details contained therein might cause distress, but FGM is distressing. It is a violation of the female body. And, we, as Catholics, know that our bodies, male and female, are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). It makes it a violation against God.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Hayes, Kent 