It has called for information from survivors, who may supply information, anonymously if they choose, via a form on the CSSA website.
“The purpose of this public call is to invite information from anyone
who has had recent contact with a Diocese or Religious Life Group
(RLG)”, the CSSA explains on its website. “This includes experiences
that are new, ongoing, or connected to non-recent abuse.”
The CSSA is “actively seeking insight, through both formal and
informal means, from those who have lived experience of abuse, and is
carrying out a public call for information.” The audit concerns the
period from July 2024, but the CSSA states that it does not “wish to
limit what you choose to share”.
Survivors are asked 10 questions in the audit, including the
timeframe of when the abuse was reported to a diocese or religious life
group (RLG meaning a society, order or congregation of religious) and
what support they were offered by the diocese or RLG. They are also
asked whether “to your knowledge”, any statutory agency, such as the
police or social services, were informed.
“The CSSA seeks to work with survivors – collaboratively,
respectfully, and in a spirit of shared ambition – to prevent future
harm,” explains the CSSA.
Established by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
as an independent agency, the CSSA publishes safeguarding audit and
inspection results from every Catholic Church body in England and Wales.
Last month, it published its first baseline audit of safeguarding in ten congregations of religious including the Comboni Missionaries, Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, the Daughters’ of St Paul, the Poor Clares of Arundel and the Marist Sisters. It ranked the safeguarding practice of the Daughters of St Paul “exemplary.”
“In some cases, there is a significant amount of work to be done”, said Steve Ashley, chief executive of the CSSA.