In July parish safeguarding representatives from all corners of the diocese attended a Safeguarding Conference at Cathedral House with members of the diocesan Safeguarding Team. The event was led by Bishop Alan Williams, who also celebrated Mass, praying for victims and survivors of abuse, and for all those who work in the ministry of safeguarding.
At the conference we took a step back from the practicalities of safeguarding to reflect on the theology of safeguarding. Our guest speaker was Rev Dr Barry O’Sullivan, a diocesan priest from the Diocese of Salford, currently working nationally and internationally as a safeguarding consultant and trainer.
Fr Barry (below) spoke passionately about a spirituality of safeguarding. He explored the Gospels and the teachings of the new Pope and his predecessors, and we collectively looked at the seven pillars of Catholic Social Teaching, to show that safeguarding should be understood as a central part of the Church’s mission, and “part of who we are as Christians”.
He also referred to a quotation from recent research carried out by the Boundary Breaking Project at Durham University: “The image of the new-born Christ child is one of immense vulnerability, and the passion and death of Christ reveal his vulnerability. We are more familiar with the idea of God as ‘almighty’ and it can seem scandalous to speak of the vulnerability of God.” (Report: The Cross of the Moment, 2024). Fr Barry reminded us that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is described in Eucharistic Prayer I as “This pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim”. This helps us with our understanding of Christ as a victim who shares the suffering of all victims.
Fr Barry showed us that the Church has always taught us about the inherent dignity of every human being, the importance of our Church communities and our duty as Christians to prioritise support of the poor and vulnerable and those on the margins of society. Victims and survivors of abuse should be able to expect our response to their needs to be loving and compassionate and we should be ready to answer those needs practically and spiritually. These are all core aspects of safeguarding practice and our mission to create safe environments where individuals are safe from harm, respected and have opportunities to participate fully in our Church communities, regardless of their age, ability or background.
Fr Barry said: “It was a pleasure to be invited to facilitate a day dedicated to the exploration of Safeguarding in the Context of Catholic Social Teaching. It was especially reassuring to have Bishop Williams in attendance and for him to show his appreciation and support for the invaluable role of the Parish Safeguarding Reps. I found it a joy to be with a group of volunteers who enriched the day by their full attention and participation.”
Simon Moules (above), the Diocesan Safeguarding Coordinator, said: “This safeguarding event was an important gathering for all of us and aims to give support and encouragement for those working to keep our parishes safe. It was an opportunity to come together as a team, network, reflect and be nourished from Fr Barry’s wisdom and valuable insights. I think it demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding in the diocese and I would encourage anyone who has been hurt by abuse within the diocese or the wider Catholic Church to get in touch. You will be listened to and treated with respect, and we will endeavour to help you.”