Introducing the Safeguarding Commission
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.
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 Simon Moules as his Safeguarding 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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
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 18th birthday.
For advice and information regarding Safeguarding matters, the Safeguarding Commission (formerly 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.
Pastoral and procedural guidelines for the protection of children and vulnerable adults
We have a number of useful documents that parishes can freely download from this website. Available downloads are listed on the right of this page.
Commission Staff
Safeguarding Officer and Co-ordinator
Mr Simon Moules BA(Hons), DipS/W
Safeguarding Administrator
Claire Mathews
Members
Mrs Linda Ransom (Chairman)
Rev Paul Fox MSc, STL, Cert Ed (Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinator)
Rev Frank Jackson BA(Econ)(Hons), MA(Theol), ACIS
Mrs Ann Ross
Fr Dominic Howarth
Mr Jim Shaw
Mr Mark Fookes BSc (Hons), DipS/W
Mr David O'Brien LLB(Hons), DipS/W, CQS/W, Barrister at Law
Frank Maguire
Mgr George Stokes
Consultant on Canon Law matters and communications
Rev John Harvey BA(Div), JCL, MCL, KHS