As Catholics we believe that human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative act of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with Him. Accordingly, we recognise that each human being, irrespective of age or circumstance, should be accorded the dignity and respect due to a child of God.

Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me

— Luke 9:48

The Church as a community has a duty to follow the command to love by valuing and protecting the vulnerable. Children are the most vulnerable and have the greatest entitlement to protection.

In order to assist this, the Bishop has appointed Father Frank Jackson as his Child Protection Co-Ordinator and Father Paul Fox as his deputy to act on his behalf in these matters. They in turn are assisted by a group of qualified people with experience in child protection. This includes a full time, qualified Child Protection Officer.

The diocese confirms that in matters of the alleged abuse of children the 'Paramount Principle' will be maintained, that is the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in all matters concerning the protection of children. Legally someone is defined as a child up to his/her eighteenth birthday.

For advice and information regarding Child Protection matters, the Commission for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults consists of those persons listed below. You can download our full Pastoral and Procedural Guidelines by clicking the link on the right.

Child Protection Co-ordinator
Rev Frank Jackson BA(Econ)(Hons), MA(Theol), ACIS

Child Protection Officer
Mr Simon Moules BA(Hons), DipS/W

Child Protection Administration
Mrs Denise MacDonald

Members
Mr Len Smith OBE (Chairman)
Mrs Linda Ransom (Vice Chairman)
Rev Paul Fox MSc, STL, Cert Ed (Deputy Child Protection Co-ordinator)
Mrs Ann Ross
Miss Teresa Carvalho
Mr Jim Shaw
Mr Mark Fookes BSc (Hons), DipS/W
Mr David O'Brien LLB(Hons), DipS/W, CQS/W, Barrister at Law

Consultant on Canon Law matters and communications
Rev John Harvey BA(Div), JCL, MCL, KHS