Church of England’s definition of safeguarding could be broadened

SAFEGUARDING in the Church of England could be broadened to include anyone harmed or at risk of harm in a church context, after the C of E’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) launched a consultation.

The fresh approach is a result of recommendations from the Charity Commission, which has pointed out that the “Church does not treat allegations of abuse from an adult not assessed to be ‘vulnerable’ as a safeguarding allegation”. Its own guidance says that trustees “must take reasonable steps to protect from harm all people who come into contact with their charity”.

The consultation, What is Safeguarding?, focuses on the code of practice Safeguarding in the Church, the subject of a consultation in April and May. Until now, it has been referred to as Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults. The change of title follows recommendations from the Commission that the NST review definitions of safeguarding and vulnerable adults.

“It is very important to note that this document is in the very early stages of thinking,” the NST says in a preface.

“We understand that this has the potential to have a significant impact on practice and we therefore need to understand from you whether these changes are workable, what the impact would be, and how we can best deliver the required changes. The changes we have been asked to make relate to the definition of safeguarding and to the definition of vulnerable adults.”

The consultation follows a review of safeguarding documents by INEQE, the company auditing safeguarding in every diocese and cathedral.

The proposed amendments focus on: a definition of harm based on the Children Act 1989, but applying that to both children and adults, and making it specific to a church context; the adoption of a formal definition of “maltreatment” applicable to both children and adults, and made applicable to a church context; and redefining vulnerability “as situational/contextual, meaning any adult harmed or at risk should be considered potentially impaired in their ability to protect themselves, triggering a safeguarding response”.

The NST says: “The document has been written on the assumption that we accept these changes — we now ask you to provide the evidence as to whether this is workable or not.”

The changes set out stand in contrast to the approach recommended by Professor Alexis Jay in her review commissioned by the Archbishops’ Council. This called on the Church to adopt the statutory definitions, setting out that the “basic purpose” of safeguarding was “the protection and support of children and vulnerable adults who have been abused or who are at risk of abuse”.

The “most egregious” issue that she identified was “the use of safeguarding to address matters of conduct which had nothing to do with risks to children or vulnerable adults”. At its most extreme, this was described as the “weaponising” of safeguarding.

Her recommendation received a mixed response during consultations and was not taken up. But a recent employment tribunal drew on the statutory definition of safeguarding to argue that a curate had insisted on labelling a “personal grievance” as a safeguarding matter and had tried to impose tasks on a diocesan safeguarding adviser which fell outside the officer’s remit.

INEQE audits have consistently identified overwork in diocesan safeguarding offices and called for greater capacity. The recent audit of the NST recommended the establishment of specialist HR capacity to advise on “ensuring conduct issues are clearly separated from safeguarding processes”.

In recent months, the Charity Commission has taken a growing interest in the Church’s approach to safeguarding. In November, it said that implementation of reform was being pursued with “insufficient urgency and pace”, and the Commission raised the concern about definitions.

In January, it censured the dioceses of Liverpool and Chelmsford for their handling of safeguarding allegations against the former Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath.

The Vicar of St Augustine’s and of Holy Trinity, in Tooting, south London, the Revd Angela Rayner, was one of several clerics to raise concerns online this week about the proposals set out in the consultation and their potential impact on resource-strapped parishes.

“Why are charity safeguarding expectations so much broader than the statutory adult safeguarding threshold, when charities generally have fewer powers, less resource, and less ability to investigate, assess risk, or compel cooperation?” she wrote.

“At what point are referrals to safeguarding distinguished from health & safety, pastoral care, HR, referrals to statutory bodies or complaint procedures? Clear boundaries matter because different forms of harm require different responses. . .

“Where’s the line between safeguarding and ordinary church life? Bullying allegations, complaints, PCC disputes, pastoral breakdowns, difficult relationships and interpersonal conflicts can all involve claims of emotional harm (and by both parties).”

The closing date for responses is Friday (12 June).

The NST said: “This initial section will then be incorporated into the Safeguarding in the Church revision, which will go to NSSG for approval in September and then General Synod for final approval later this year.”

Protection of Minors Commission receives new Statutes, renewed mandate

Pope Leo XIV has approved new Statutes for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, replacing those promulgated in 2015 and bringing the Commission's structure and mandate in line with the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium.

The new Statutes have been approved ad experimentum for a period of three years and were published on Saturday, 13 June 2026.

A Rescript signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin notes that the Holy Father approved the revised text during an audience on 20 May 2026 and ordered its immediate entry into force.

Pontifical Commission’s role to promote accountability

In a press release accompanying the publication of the Statutes, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors said the revised text strengthens its role in promoting safeguarding practices across the universal Church and forms part of a broader effort “to ensure that safeguarding is fully integrated into the life and structures of the Church.”

Archbishop Thibault Verny, President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, said the Statutes “mark an important step in deepening our shared responsibility to protect and care for the most vulnerable.”

“They reflect listening—to victims/survivors, to safeguarding experts, and to the experience of local Churches—and reaffirm that safeguarding remains a central priority,” he continued.

New aspects of Commission’s mandate

According to the Commission, the revised Statutes strengthen its mandate and operational effectiveness, continue to emphasize victim- and survivor-informed approaches.

The Statutes also clarify the Commission’s relationship with other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, and reinforce its role in promoting “accountability, transparency, and good safeguarding practices globally.”

The Commission reports directly to the Pope and advises him on the protection of minors and vulnerable persons from abuse.

“It is established alongside the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and therefore collaborates closely with the Dicastery in the exchange of information, the development of safeguarding methodologies, preparation of the Annual Report and formation programs,” noted the press release. “The President or Secretary are nominated members of the Dicastery and one or more Dicastery officials are nominated by the Prefect as observers at the Commission’s Plenary Assemblies.”

The Commission does not govern but helps to guide the Curia’s service to the universal Church by promoting local responsibility and competencies of the various Vatican Dicasteries.

Among the developments highlighted by the Commission is its continued support for local Churches in developing safeguarding frameworks and promoting stable and accessible reporting systems, as well as listening centres that “welcome, listen to and accompany victims/survivors”, while protecting confidentiality and personal data.

Annual reports

The Commission also noted its responsibility for preparing the Annual Report on Church Policies and Procedures for Safeguarding.

The report draws on contributions from Dicasteries and local ecclesial bodies and seeks to map “the status of safeguarding in the global Church” by distinguishing between verified policies, declared practices, information received, systemic issues, and recommendations.

Pope Leo has repeatedly affirmed that the protection of minors and vulnerable persons is a fundamental responsibility of the Church.

The Commission said the revised Statutes reaffirm this commitment and support its mission of accompanying local Churches in strengthening safeguarding efforts throughout the world.

Irish nun who defied the Nazis remembered in new book

A new book is shining fresh light on the life of an Irish nun who helped save hundreds of people from the Nazis before surviving imprisonment in Ravensbrück concentration camp.

The Nun of Ravensbrück: The Irish Nun Who Defied the Nazis, by historian Cathi Fleming, tells the story of Sr Kate McCarthy, a Franciscan nun from Drimoleague, Co. Cork, who became involved in the French Resistance during the Second World War.

Known in religious life as Soeur Marie Laurence, Sr Kate had first gone to France as a young nun and nurse during the First World War. After returning during the Second World War, she used her work in war hospitals to help Allied soldiers, prisoners of war and others escape Nazi-occupied France.

As part of the Musée de l’Homme resistance network, Sr Kate is believed to have helped some 200 people reach safety before she was arrested by the Gestapo in June 1941. She endured solitary confinement, interrogation and a death sentence before being ‘disappeared’ under Hitler’s ‘Night and Fog’ decree.

She was eventually sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women’s concentration camp, where she survived forced labour, beatings, typhus and repeated selections for the gas chamber. Liberated by the Swedish Red Cross in April 1945, Sr Kate returned to Cork and resumed her vocation caring for elderly men at the Honan Home in Montenotte.

She was decorated by Charles de Gaulle and received a citation from Winston Churchill, though campaigners hope the new book will help win her wider recognition.

'Force to be reckoned with': Tributes paid to mother and baby home campaigner Mags McKinney, who has died aged 49

Tributes have poured in for the daughter of one of Ireland's best-known campaigners for survivors of mother and baby homes, who died this week following a short illness.

Margaret "Mags" McKinney died at Dublin's Mater Hospital on Tuesday, surrounded by her family and friends. She was 49.

A native of Cabra in north Dublin, Ms McKinney was a prominent campaigner alongside her mother, Rosie McKinney, who died last year aged 86.

For more than two decades, Mags stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her mother as survivors of Ireland's mother and baby homes found their voices and spoke publicly about the abuse and mistreatment they endured at the hands of the church and state.

Rosie McKinney was one of the most recognisable voices in the campaign for justice. She lost three children, one died and two were adopted by the nuns, and she spent part of her childhood in the Tuam Mother and Baby Home before being sent to a Magdalene Laundry.

She often recounted how, as a teenager, she escaped from the institution and refused to return.

Speaking previously to the Irish Examiner, Rosie recalled threatening to set dogs on the nuns and Gardaí who arrived at her home to bring her back.

"They were not long going," she said.

Throughout the years of campaigning that followed, Mags remained a constant support to her mother and was fiercely protective of her as she shared her experiences publicly.

"My ma never put the bad side out and was never one for seeking attention," Mags said at the time.

"I didn't know half of what she went through, but we just wanted to get everyone recognised for what all the survivors went through."

Mags became a familiar face at demonstrations, protests and events outside Leinster House as survivors and their families sought recognition, accountability and redress.

"It's not about me," she said during one campaign event. "I just want the Government to realise what they did to people like my mother."

She welcomed the state apology delivered to survivors of mother and baby homes in 2021, but maintained that the suffering endured by generations of women and children should never have happened.

"Mam was happy with the apology," she said at the time, "but it never should have happened."

Outside her campaigning work, Mags was a well-known and much-loved figure in her local community. She was regularly seen canvassing in Cabra with her close friend, former Labour TD Joe Costello, whom she affectionately referred to as "boss".

Since news of her death emerged, tributes have poured in from fellow campaigners, survivors and political figures who knew her through years of advocacy work.

Among those paying tribute were survivor campaigners Anna Corrigan and Annette McKay, both of whom worked alongside Mags and Rosie during the long campaign for truth and justice for survivors of mother and baby homes and Magdalene institutions.

Ms Corrigan said she was a “force to be reckoned with” while Ms McKay said the loss was “heartbreaking” as both women thanked her for all the work she did.

Former Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin said: "She was a constant reliable friend of Labour in good times and bad. A personality I always associate with the heart of Dublin, ever present with advice and friendship. May she rest in peace”.

Archbishop Martin: racism is a grave sin and Christians like us must stand against it

Friends, I’m very happy to be with you for this international Mass to celebrate the richness and diversity of your parish community here in Lurgan.

I am very conscious of course of the fear and anxiety that many are feeling this week after the brutal knife attack on a man’s life in Belfast, which was followed by outrageous and orchestrated violence against the homes and businesses of migrant communities in our towns and cities. This morning’s Mass is an opportunity for us to pray together following such a traumatic week. On behalf of the many good people in our communities, I want to express our shock and horror at the hatred and violence that has been shown on our streets to friends and neighbours who have come from around the world to live, work and pray among us here in Ireland.

Ireland has long been known as a place of friendliness and welcome – céad míle fáilte – 100,000 welcomes, even. Perhaps that’s because migration has been a major feature of Irish history for generations; during the height of the famine years almost two million people left our shores, and migration has been a common and constant pattern in Irish life: with young people leaving to look for jobs and a fresh start in life, especially when times were tough. Even today, many of our talented young people still leave our island to seek new skills and experience and perhaps to earn enough money to return and put down a deposit on a home for their future.

Now we hear angry and hate-filled voices, especially on social media, calling for us “to close our borders and our hearts to the newcomer”.  Ironically, that reminds us of the way that during some dark days, our own Irish emigrants abroad were suspected and unjustly targeted.

Pope Leo, and Pope Francis before him, have reminded us that ‘to welcome the migrant is to welcome Christ himself’, who ‘is present in the sister or brother in need of our help.’

We are also called to go beyond merely ‘welcoming’ newcomers. We are challenged by our faith to do everything we can to support and integrate new arrivals here and help them to become valued members of our communities who can participate in our parishes, and be our neighbours and friends.

We are well aware of the tremendous gifts that people from other countries are already bringing to our health and hospitality services, to our businesses and retail outlets, to our construction and technology sectors, and to the revitalisation of many areas and neighbourhoods which had become neglected and run down.  Pope Francis used to talk about cultivating a “culture of encounter” with newcomers.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his encyclical, Caritas in Veritate: “every migrant is a human person who, as such, possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance.”

In recent days, we have seen again how fear can be stirred up, how difference can be treated as threat, and how people can be targeted because of their race, background or identity. We do not gather here today in Saint Peter’s, Lurgan, to dwell in that darkness, but neither do we pretend it has not touched our communities.

This International Mass is a sign of another possibility and faith-filled vision – of people of many nations, languages and cultures standing together before the same Lord, sharing the same Eucharist, and recognising one another not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters in Christ. For as the psalmist put it, “cry out with joy to the Lord all the Earth, for we are his people the sheep of his flock!”

During the past week, Pope Leo XIV spoke in the Canary Islands of integration of migrants as a shared responsibility, which is rooted in human dignity, welcome and participation. The Church does not ask people to erase who they are, nor does she ask local communities to close themselves off in fear. What we seek is … a deeper encounter: the meeting of cultures, gifts, memories, prayers, music, food, stories and faith.

Those who come to our communities and parishes in Ireland bring great riches from their various traditions across the world. And we who receive them are called to share our story, our memories and traditions, with them.

In Christ, we are not set against each other. We are invited to build a home and community together, to learn from one another, to build and share the life of the local community, and to let the Holy Spirit form us into one body, rich in many gifts.

Pope Leo emphasises that, “Integration is a reciprocal journey: those who arrive learn to inhabit a new land, and those who welcome them learn to expand their own homes without diluting their identity or closing their hearts to the encounter.”

Pope Leo spoke directly to members of migrant communities, saying: “To you, dear migrant brothers and sisters, belongs a noble and necessary part of this journey: to open yourselves with trust to the community that welcomes you, to learn its language, to respect its laws, to get to know its customs, to participate in communal life and to offer your gifts with gratitude.”

Let me be very clear today: racism is a grave sin and Christians like us must stand strongly against it. The Irish bishops said recently, “Even if a crowd is shouting racist chants, we stand for the truth that God’s love is not restricted to the holders of any particular passports – we are all equal in his eyes.” Racism “seeks to divide and to exploit anxieties by spreading fear, often through misinformation.”

I am delighted that this parish has chosen to celebrate this International Mass today. It is an affirmation that we recognise the image of God and human dignity in every person.

We pray for migrants and refugees as Pope Francis did:

We are a pilgrim people,
journeying our way through this earth.

Though we live on earth,
our true citizenship is in heaven.

Do not let us become possessive
of the portion of the world
you have given us as a temporary home.

Help us to keep walking,
together with our migrant brothers and sisters,
toward the eternal dwelling you have prepared for us.

Open our eyes and our hearts
so that every encounter with those in need
becomes an encounter with Jesus, your Son and our Lord.
Amen.

(Pope Francis, Prayer for World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees, 2024)

‘Offering Hope in Crisis’ – Irish Bishops’ statement affirming human life

Times of crisis are often times of growth; times when we deepen relationships.  We saw this six years ago when COVID-19 came to Ireland. It was a horrible time, which left deep emotional scars. It was also a time when, all across this country, in every community, people stepped up to serve. We went to great lengths to protect one another and to save lives.
 
It seems quite tragic that at that same time, when we were so focussed on saving life, protecting the vulnerable, and making sure that people were not forgotten, our society also began the wholesale destruction of human life through abortion. While COVID-19 cost almost 10,000 lives in Ireland, there have been well over 50,000 deaths from abortion since 2019 (equivalent to nearly 2,000 classrooms of children). 
 
We need to ask ourselves: why has this not provoked anything like the same kind of crisis response in the form of solidarity or outreach?
 
One reason seems to be that the crisis of “crisis pregnancy” takes place, for the most part, in private. Unless we are directly involved, we can only imagine the loneliness, the emotional turmoil, the economic difficulties, the domestic violence or the addiction that may lie behind the choice of abortion. The most natural thing in the world is for a mother to protect her child. The sadness and regret that so often follow abortion can last for years. 
 
Over 90% of abortions in Ireland take place in the first twelve weeks but, in a society that is otherwise collapsing under the weight of research statistics, there is no attempt to even find out why.  Neither the State, nor the mainstream media, seem to have any interest in exploring what leads women to choose abortion or what happens to them afterwards.
 
We can be thankful that there are still a few voluntary agencies which offer support and accompaniment to women in crisis pregnancy, in an environment of respect both for the parents and for the life of their unborn child.  

Rachel’s Vineyard offers a valuable spiritual support to women and men who have experienced abortion and who, often many years later, seek healing. All of these things depend on the hard work of a relatively small number of people. We encourage Catholics who believe in the dignity of every human life to consider devoting time and energy as well as financial support to this kind of work, which is more necessary now than ever.
 
We acknowledge with gratitude those public representatives who have courageously affirmed the right to life of the unborn. Unfortunately, there some who seem determined at all costs to widen the scope of the present law.  

In his address to members of the Spanish Parliament (8 June 2026), Pope Leo XIV said:
“The defense of human life is neither a partisan issue nor a confessional interest: it is a goal of civilization. Every human life must be recognized and safeguarded from conception to its natural end, in every circumstance of its existence. When this certainty is obscured, the most vulnerable are the first victims, and the law loses its deepest meaning: to serve and protect every person. For this reason, the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to accompany, protect and love those lives that are most fragile.”
 
As the Catholic Church prepares to mark the annual ‘Day for Life’ on Sunday next, 21 June, we encourage Irish people once again to choose life.

Pope Leo XIV calls for bringing Christian hope to a world wounded by war, consumerism, and distrust

Pope Leo XIV centered his reflection before the Angelus this Sunday on Christ’s merciful gaze upon suffering humanity, emphasizing that the Church’s mission is to bring charity, hope, and faith wherever material and spiritual misery prevails.

Commenting on the Gospel of this Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mt 9:36-10:8), the Pontiff highlighted that all people are included in Jesus’ gaze, a gaze that does not remain indifferent to human suffering. “Jesus sees and loves,” the Pope affirmed, recalling that the Son of God contemplates the concrete reality of the men and women of every age and has compassion on their wounds.

Leo XIV noted that Christ sees “the oppression that crushes and the violence that takes away strength,” but also the consequences of a society marked by consumerism, family fragmentation, and the loss of authentic role models for young people. Faced with this reality, Jesus’ compassion is not a mere sentimental reaction, but an effective will for redemption.

The Holy Father recalled the Gospel image of the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd” and presented Christ as the Good Shepherd who knows each person’s heart and cares for it. From this concern for the salvation of souls arises the sending of the apostles and, with them, the Church’s permanent mission.

According to Leo XIV, the task entrusted by Christ to his disciples consists in bringing “God’s consolation to those who suffer,” offering charity where poverty exists, hope where affliction reigns, and faith where distrust has taken hold. It is a mission rooted in the gratuity of the gift received from God.

The Pope also dwelt on the choice of the Twelve Apostles, noting that among them are both Saint Peter and Judas Iscariot. This circumstance, he pointed out, shows that the possibility of betraying Christ always accompanies human freedom, yet does not prevent the Gospel from preserving intact its truth and saving power throughout the centuries.

“The Kingdom of heaven has come near,” the Pontiff recalled, quoting Christ’s words. An announcement that remains timely because in Jesus Christ God truly draws near to every person, every people, and every nation.

Leo XIV insisted that when the Gospel is proclaimed and lived with fidelity, evil recedes and reality begins to be transformed. The Church, born of Christ’s loving initiative, is called to continue the apostolic work under the Gospel mandate: “Freely you have received, freely give.”

In the final part of his reflection, the Pope recalled that evangelization does not arise from human strategies or particular interests, but from the divine mercy received gratuitously. Therefore, the Christian mission is made concrete in forgiveness, service to the poorest, and commitment to justice—visible manifestations of the presence of the Kingdom of God in the midst of the world.

Presbyterian ministers up in arms over decision granting former moderator permission to retire

Ministers of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) are furious that controversial ex-clerk Rev Dr Trevor Gribben was given permission to retire.

Until now, Dr Gribben’s retirement has been somewhat obscured, with the focus on his stepping aside from the church’s moderatorship.

However, a report produced for last week’s General Assembly detailed Dr Gribben’s request to be permitted to retire from his post as clerk and secretary of the General Assembly last year, which the church granted.

The Blue report said: “Following the conviction and imprisonment of a person (William Maher) on May 12, 2025, for child abuse offences, who had previously been involved in a youth leadership role in a PCI congregation, it became apparent there were serious failings in the delivery of safeguarding functions in the denomination.

“On May 27, 2025, the General Assembly advisory committee appointed an ad hoc committee of four people to look into concerns regarding the PCI’s central safeguarding provision. Its work progressed intensively through the summer and into the autumn of 2025.

“The findings of the ad hoc committee report were shared with the General Council on November 12, 2025. Following this, a letter from Dr Trevor Gribben was read to the council, indicating his intention to stand down as moderator.

“This being accepted, his predecessor, Dr Richard Murray, assumed the office. Dr Gribben further sought permission to retire from his employed role as clerk and general secretary, and this was granted.”

The statement has done little to quell speculation about why Dr Gribben left the position following the report, which has never been published.

He had been clerk — one of the church’s most senior positions — since 2014, covering much of the period from 2009 to 2022 in which there were significant safeguarding failings.

Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick, who settled a case with the PCI last year, said questions remained. He added: “Why was Rev Gribben permitted last year to step aside as PCI moderator and retire as clerk?

“He retains his honorary doctorate and membership of the PCI, yet it seems that no questions are asked about the failings under his regime and the accompanying cost to the church.

“Perhaps the investigations of the PSNI and Charity Commission will unearth a fuller story that the PCI itself has been so reluctant to investigate.”

Over the past year, a questioning light has been shone on Dr Gribben’s time as PCI Clerk.

At the end of last year, former PCI head of safeguarding Dr Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin said her experience of working in the organisation was that of a “culture of control and covert bullying”, and that she believed Dr Gribben was “beyond reproach”.

Dr Gribben was also a named respondent, along with other senior members of the church, in a tribunal case alleging sex and race discrimination that was settled with a confidentiality agreement last year. All the allegations were denied.

Former minister Rev Dr Robin Greer also told this newspaper that Dr Gribben threatened him with contumacy to stop him from speaking out at the 2018 General Assembly about being spied on by members of his own congregation.

One elder, who didn’t want to be named, said the decision to let the former clerk retire was a disgrace.

They added: “Trevor Gribben was given permission to retire, and no one knows the details of that, including whether he has been allowed to have his pension.

“Under what terms was he allowed to exit? The church hasn’t communicated anything. Others have been loosed from their roles without benefits.

“It’s appalling. I just have no confidence at all. I believe his retirement should be rescinded.”

In response to questions about why Dr Gribben was allowed to retire in the midst of an emerging crisis, and whether he had been given a full pension, the church said: “As a rule we do not respond to questions relating to personnel issues, and therefore will be making no comment.”

Church of Ireland 'safeguarding failings' over pastor's criminal record

An investigation has uncovered a series of alleged safeguarding failings linked to an east Belfast church where a man with 45 convictions was appointed as a lay pastor.

Joe Turner took up the role with the Church of Ireland at St Brendan's in Sydenham in 2017 – shortly after an assault in which he was said to have broken the ribs of a man in his 70s. He was convicted of assault later that year.

Turner has said he rejected the suggestion his criminal past was relevant to his suitability for the role he held at the church.

The Church of Ireland did not comment on the allegations in relation to Turner, but said it took its safeguarding responsibilities very seriously.

BBC Spotlight interviewed a number of whistleblowers as part of a programme examining safeguarding issues within the Church of Ireland – from both the past and more recent years.

Turner was appointed as a so-called commissioned lay worker at St Brendan's, but said his role was to act as a pastor for the east Belfast parish.

Spotlight has seen a confidential church report, which outlined numerous concerns about his behaviour.

The report was compiled in response to a serious allegation made against Turner in late 2019 by a vulnerable woman in the parish.

He was placed on a precautionary suspension while the Church of Ireland carried out an internal review.

It ultimately found the woman's allegation lacked credibility, but it brought to light multiple other concerns about Turner.

At the point of his suspension, it was discovered that Turner had not undergone the enhanced criminal record check – or Access NI - that was required for his role.

Turner told Spotlight he had undergone such a check for a previous role and believed it was therefore not required.

However, even after he was prompted by the church two years into his employment, he still failed to undergo a check for a further five months.

He said the church was aware of his history, which is understood to include past connections to paramilitary activity and a five and a half year prison sentence for armed robbery.

The church said at the time the check did not take place due to an oversight.

An Access NI check eventually happened more than two years after the assault on the pensioner.

Safeguarding expert Marcella Leonard said that was "not acceptable".

"This is beyond being a failure. This a complete lack of proactive safeguarding for a known risk," she said.

When Turner was suspended, he was instructed by a senior figure in the church not to attend a youth trip to the US.

The trip was to a Christian theme park in Kentucky involving children as young as 14.

Despite being ordered not to attend, Turner went along anyway.

Turner told the church he went on the trip as a parent of a child in attendance.

He said that had he known the details of the serious complaint against him, he would have reconsidered going.

Further concerns about Turner's behaviour while on the trip were brought to light in the internal church report. The main allegation was that "he entered, without knocking, a bedroom for female youth group members, when some of them were undressed".

In a statement, Turner denied this and also denied engaging in any conduct that caused distress. 

Separately, a former minister from another Church of Ireland parish in east Belfast detailed what he believed to be a further safeguarding concern involving the bishop of the diocese David McClay.

His account is disputed by the bishop.

Rev Adrian McCartney was among those who helped report the initial serious allegation, which was ultimately found to have no veracity, made by the vulnerable woman.

A year after the allegation was reported, Rev McCartney said he was approached by Bishop of Down and Dromore David McClay.

He told Spotlight that Bishop McClay asked him to try to persuade the woman to retract her statement.

He said the bishop also offered "a small number of thousands of pounds" to help the woman "relocate".

He said the conversations with Bishop McClay happened over the course of two meetings in October 2020, and he said he declined on both occasions.

'Personal grievance'

In a statement, Bishop McClay strongly rejected Rev McCartney's allegations.

He said a meeting he attended in October 2020 had been part of an episcopal visitation.

He said he offered whatever pastoral care he could to help the woman concerned – as well as assisting Rev McCartney as he tried to support her.

The bishop claimed Rev McCartney's allegations were the result of a personal grievance over theological differences.

Rev McCartney acknowledged that the pair had not got on, but said that was not why he was speaking out.

The Church of Ireland did not comment on any allegations concerning Joe Turner or Bishop McClay, but said in a statement that it took its safeguarding responsibilities very seriously, and believed its current structure, policies and procedures were robust.

From the HSE to Church of Ireland dean: ‘I took a huge salary cut, but I’ve never been happier’

Since May 31st, the overwhelming question in Church of Ireland circles has been “who is Canon Tom O’Brien?”

That Sunday it was announced that Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson had appointed O’Brien to succeed Rev Dermot Dunne, who retires as dean of Christ Church Cathedral at the end of August.

At 54, O’Brien worked at the Health Service Executive (HSE) for almost three decades and has served just three years as a Church of Ireland rector. It is not the usual track record for someone in one of the most senior clerical positions in Dublin.

“What was the archbishop thinking in making the appointment?” is, usually, the second question in such conversations.

Looking closely at O’Brien’s history, the answer is soon as implicit as that in comedian Caroline Aherne’s question to magician’s wife Debbie McGee: “What first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?”

Christ Church is in Dublin’s south inner city. Among O’Brien’s roles at the HSE was as co-ordinator for the Dublin northeast drugs taskforce in the early 2000s, when the area was beset by drug abuse. He went on to become the HSE’s addiction services manager for the Dublin north city and county area when it had probably the highest prevalence of drug abuse in the country.

Leading about 400 staff and six drug taskforces, O’Brien “just loved working with drug addicts and trying to make lives better”, he told The Irish Times. “It was investing in communities, investing in supports, building up new programmes.”

He studied for a master’s degree in social work at Trinity College Dublin and the St Francis Hospice in Raheny, specialising in palliative care. “It was very positive. I know that sounds weird, but people knew they were at the end of life ... they were content with where they were at, and there was a great sense of calm and a great sense of peace, and I actually thought there’s lots I can learn from this.”

His thesis was “on grief and loss in addiction. We often think about loss being the physical loss of an individual but then, what we realised with addiction, was that there is a loss when a parent loses their child to addiction. They’re not going to be, you know, a schoolteacher, they’re not going to get married; perhaps they’re not going to have wonderful grandchildren.”

And “you realise there were other forms of grief that we’re recognising now with Alzheimer’s and dementia, that the person is there but they’re not, so you’re not allowed to grieve because society doesn’t understand it and they say ‘what are you doing, your Daddy is still there’. But he’s not, so [there are] all these other types of grief that we learned about.”

O’Brien “just loved” carrying out the research.

In order to rise further in the HSE “you needed to get more experience elsewhere” so he took on the job as co-ordinator of BowelScreen, a screening service for bowel cancers.

“It wasn’t patient-facing, so I started to think ‘oh this is not for me’.” He applied for and was appointed the HSE’s youth mental health taskforce co-ordinator, which saw him leading development of the national mental health strategy.

It meant structures were in place when Covid hit to provide counselling in emergency departments, in the home, “and for young people in particular who were sitting the Leaving Cert and were panicked about being isolated”. It was “brilliant and it was one of the most successful things that I have done in my career”.

He was then asked “to do a policy on loneliness, which was the biggest problem for older people. But I had enough policy at that stage.” Instead he headed primary care for the Dublin north city area, covering “every service in the community”.

After Covid, he felt things fell back into the old ways at the HSE, and for some the bureaucracy became “stifling”. As he ascended the ranks, it was a case of being “at meetings every day, thinking about other meetings”.

By then O’Brien “was speaking with the archbishop and I had been a self-supporting minister for 10 years”, having undertaken training for ministry at the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin while working at the HSE. He served as curate in Howth and Balbriggan parishes.

“I said to the archbishop, you know I love what I’m doing at the HSE but I just feel as though, should I wait until I’m 65 and then come into a church and be too old to do anything, or I’m open to exploring coming into the church and doing something dynamic before I retire and see how it works out.”

Besides, by then he had realised that “sitting at meetings would have just killed me”.

There was also an incident when his son Dylan was very ill in hospital. O’Brien was about to visit him when he was asked to attend another such HSE meeting. “We’d love you to be here, Tom, because there’s something urgent we need to discuss,” he was told. He attended the meeting but there was “nothing”.

The archbishop knew of a vacancy that would suit O’Brien. He was interviewed for the position as rector at St James’s in Crinken, south Dublin, and three years ago got the job. “I took a huge salary decrease, huge, but I’ve never been happier.”

He loves it at Crinken – his biggest difficulty with accepting the job as dean of Christ Church “was the people” at Crinken. He had been to “very many churches where select vestries have been kind of difficult at times,” but in a very active three years at Crinken “I’ve had nothing but an easy ride”.

The people have been “very supportive, no matter what I wanted, they said ‘yes, let’s do it’” and he and his wife Daniella have “made very good friends. It’s a beautiful location.” Now he was headed for “the city centre into what is a very formal role”.

The archbishop has been “very supportive. He is very wise. He sees an awful lot of things that I don’t even see, you know. He sees talents that I probably didn’t see about myself. He knew that Crinken would be a great fit. I don’t know how he knew that, but it was. He knows the cathedral’s going to be a good fit for a different reason.”

O’Brien and his wife Daniella have three children, Rebecca (27), Dylan (24) and Tara Rose (20). He and Daniella met in London during an earlier life when both were, briefly, studying law. She is from Prague and her father is a senior figure in the Czech Republic’s Baptist Union.

From Waterford and a Catholic background, O’Brien had by then already found his way to the Baptists as his faith search went on. It continued, until he found his spiritual home in Anglicanism.

It is expected he will be installed as dean of Christ Church in October.

Some Limerick churches 'close' to being shut, bishop reveals

ONE or two Limerick churches are ‘close’ to being shut, revealed Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy in a letter read out at Masses in the diocese this weekend.

He stressed that ​the call for ​more lay involvement ​is ​not abstract; “it ​is real and urgent”.

Bishop Leahy has ​published ​the findings of an ​extensive diocesan ​consultation process, describing the ​report ​as ​both a source of hope and a ​clear ​call to ​action ​as ​the diocese seeks to meet challenges around ​clergy ​numbers, volunteer ​capacity and ​parish sustainability.

The report, which follows months of ​consultation ​with parishioners ​across the diocese, identifies strong faith, ​community ​spirit ​and a desire for vibrant parish ​life as ​enduring ​strengths.

However, it ​also highlights a pressing ​need for greater ​lay involvement ​and deeper collaboration ​between parishes ​if ​Church ​services ​and ​ministries are to remain sustainable ​in the years ahead.

Despite ​the challenges identified, Bishop Leahy ​said he was encouraged ​by ​the ​trend ​in the consultations ​of a ​strong ​desire ​among parishioners not simply to preserve existing ​structures ​but to renew and strengthen ​the Church's mission.

Speaking ​in the ​letter ​read out by priests at ​Masses ​across the Diocese this weekend, Bishop ​Leahy acknowledged that the Church ​is ​entering ​a period ​that will require difficult decisions ​and ​new ways ​of working and urged a ​broadening ​of volunteerism ​across parishes.

"The consultations ​show ​clearly that people want ​their ​parishes to ​thrive, not ​merely survive. They want ​faith passed ​on, liturgy renewed, young people welcomed, ​and communities ​strengthened," ​he said.

"We must ​also ​be ​honest about ​the challenges ​ahead. ​Many ​of the proposals brought forward are ​excellent, but they ​come at ​a time when both clergy and ​parishioners are ageing, and when ​the pool ​of volunteers is smaller ​than before. We ​cannot ​keep ​asking ​the ​same faithful ​people to take on more," ​Bishop ​Leahy ​added.

The consultation ​process found strong ​support ​for greater ​lay ministry, ​expanded roles for women ​in parish leadership, improved training and formation opportunities, ​stronger engagement ​with ​young people ​and ​families, ​and increased collaboration ​between ​neighbouring parishes.

To support these ​priorities, Bishop ​Leahy ​announced plans to establish five ​new ​diocesan resource centres focused ​on Parish Leadership, Training and ​Formation, ​Digital Engagement, Inclusion and Outreach, and ​Stewardship and ​Governance.

Bishop ​Leahy ​said the ​future ​vitality ​of parish ​life ​will ​depend increasingly ​on the ​willingness ​of lay ​people to ​become actively involved in ministry and leadership.

"Unless more people ​are ​willing to ​become actively involved in the life of the ​parish, many ​of the ​aspirations and proposals ​that emerged from ​the parish ​consultations ​will ​be difficult to ​realise. ​The call for ​more lay involvement ​is ​not abstract; it ​is real and urgent."

The ​report ​comes ​against a ​backdrop of declining vocations ​to the priesthood, ​an ageing clergy ​population, increasing demands ​on volunteers and mounting financial pressures across ​some parishes.

Bishop ​Leahy ​also addressed concerns about ​the ​future of ​church ​buildings, ​acknowledging that ​while parish ​churches remain deeply valued by ​local communities, maintaining ​them presents growing challenges.

"Some parishes are in a ​precarious ​position. Running ​a parish ​and ​maintaining church ​buildings ​costs ​money. I do not intend to close ​churches ​unless a parish reaches a point ​where ​it cannot, financially ​or in ​terms ​of ​safety, keep ​the building ​open. ​We are not ​at that point ​now, though one or two are close," he said.

The diocese ​must plan responsibly, he said, for the ​future and ​avoid leaving ​unsustainable burdens ​for ​future ​generations.

The ​report also points to greater ​collaboration ​between parishes ​and pastoral units as an essential ​element of ​future ​planning. ​In some ​areas, parish amalgamations may need to be considered as ​communities seek to preserve ​local faith ​life ​while sharing resources ​and ​responsibilities.

"I cannot ​emphasise enough ​the ​urgent ​need for smaller parishes to deepen collaboration with their ​neighbours for ​a sustainable ​future," Bishop ​Leahy ​said.

Bishop arrested for publicly exposing himself

Police in the Petralona district of Athens have arrested an Orthodox metropolitan bishop on suspicion of publicly exposing himself, various media outlets have reported.

The 52-year-old cleric, who was dressed in civilian clothes at the time, was arrested on Thursday afternoon after multiple citizens reported that a man was walking through the area with his trousers unbuttoned and exposing his genitals to passersby for more than two hours.

Witnesses described the suspect as thin, bearded, dressed in black and wearing a hat.

The man was taken to a police station, where he identified himself as a clergyman. 

A case has been filed against him on charges related to insulting sexual dignity.

According to reports, the suspect is a metropolitan bishop of the Patriarchate of Alexandria who maintains an active presence on social media.

The patriarchate said it would provide legal support to the cleric, who is expected to appear before a prosecutor.

Limerick Bishop says report finds strong support for ​expanded roles for ​women in ​parish leadership

Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has published the findings ​of an ​extensive diocesan ​consultation ​process, describing ​the report as ​both ​a ​source of hope ​and ​a ​clear call ​to ​action as ​the Diocese seeks to meet challenges around clergy ​numbers, volunteer ​capacity and parish sustainability.

The ​report, which follows ​months ​of consultation with parishioners ​across ​the ​Diocese, ​identifies strong ​faith, community spirit and ​a desire for vibrant parish life as enduring ​strengths.

However, ​it also ​highlights ​a pressing need ​for greater ​lay involvement and ​deeper ​collaboration between ​parishes if Church services and ​ministries are to ​remain sustainable in the ​years ​ahead.

Despite ​the challenges ​identified, ​Bishop said ​he was encouraged by the trend ​in the consultations of a strong ​desire ​among parishioners ​not ​simply ​to preserve ​existing structures ​but to renew ​and strengthen the Church's mission.

Speaking ​in ​a letter being ​read ​at Masses ​across ​the Diocese this weekend, Bishop Leahy acknowledged ​that ​the Church is entering ​a ​period ​that will require difficult decisions ​and new ​ways ​of working and urged a broadening of volunteerism across ​parishes.

"The ​consultations show ​clearly that people ​want their parishes ​to thrive, not ​merely ​survive. ​They want ​faith ​passed on, liturgy renewed, young people welcomed, and ​communities ​strengthened," he ​said.

"We ​must ​also ​be honest about ​the challenges ​ahead. Many of the proposals ​brought ​forward are excellent, ​but they ​come at ​a ​time when ​both clergy and ​parishioners are ageing, and ​when the ​pool of volunteers ​is ​smaller ​than ​before. We cannot keep asking the same faithful people to ​take ​on more," ​Bishop Leahy said.

The ​consultation process ​found ​strong ​support for greater ​lay ministry, ​expanded roles for ​women in ​parish leadership, improved ​training and formation opportunities, stronger engagement ​with young people and families, ​and increased collaboration between ​neighbouring parishes.

To support these priorities, ​Bishop Leahy ​announced ​plans to establish five new ​diocesan ​resource centres focused ​on Parish Leadership, Training and ​Formation, ​Digital Engagement, ​Inclusion ​and Outreach, and Stewardship and ​Governance.

Bishop Leahy ​said the future vitality ​of parish life will depend increasingly on ​the ​willingness of lay people to become actively ​involved in ​ministry ​and leadership.

"Unless more ​people are ​willing ​to become actively ​involved in the life ​of the ​parish, many of the aspirations and ​proposals that emerged from the ​parish consultations will be difficult to realise. ​The ​call for ​more lay involvement is not ​abstract; it ​is real ​and urgent."

The report comes against ​a ​backdrop ​of declining vocations ​to the priesthood, an ​ageing clergy population, increasing demands ​on ​volunteers and mounting ​financial ​pressures ​across some parishes.

Bishop Leahy ​also ​addressed ​concerns about ​the future ​of church ​buildings, acknowledging that while parish ​churches remain ​deeply valued by local ​communities, maintaining them ​presents growing ​challenges.

"Some parishes are ​in ​a precarious position. Running ​a ​parish and maintaining ​church buildings ​costs money. I do not intend to close churches unless ​a ​parish ​reaches a ​point where ​it cannot, ​financially or in terms of safety, keep the ​building open. ​We are ​not ​at that point ​now, though ​one or two ​are close," ​he ​said.

The Diocese ​must plan responsibly, he said ​for ​the future ​and avoid leaving unsustainable ​burdens for future ​generations.

The report also points to ​greater collaboration between ​parishes ​and pastoral units as ​an ​essential ​element ​of ​future planning.

In ​some areas, parish ​amalgamations may ​need to be ​considered as communities seek to preserve ​local faith ​life while sharing ​resources and ​responsibilities.

"I ​cannot emphasise enough the ​urgent ​need ​for smaller parishes ​to ​deepen collaboration ​with their ​neighbours for a sustainable future," ​Bishop Leahy said.

The ​diocesan ​consultation report is being ​published as ​the Diocese marks the ​tenth anniversary ​of the ​Limerick Diocesan ​Synod and ​will ​inform ​pastoral ​planning ​and parish development initiatives over the ​coming ​years.

Catholic bishops criticise attempts to widen abortion law

Irish Catholic Bishops have described as unfortunate, efforts to widen the current law on abortion.

In a statement agreed at their summer meeting last week, the bishops said some public representatives seemed "determined at all costs to widen the scope of the present law".

Its publication coincides with an announcement by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald that the party will move legislation next week to remove the current three-day mandatory waiting period.

The Bishops' Conference expressed "gratitude" to public representatives who had "courageously affirmed the right to life of the unborn".

Marking the Catholic Church’s annual 'Day for Life’, due to take place next Sunday, the bishops questioned why there had been "no attempt" to find out why 90% of abortions take place in the first 12 weeks.

"Neither the State, nor the mainstream media, seem to have any interest in exploring what leads women to choose abortion or what happens to them afterwards," it said.

They quoted a recent address by Pope Leo XIV, who told the Spanish parliament that human life must be recognised and safeguarded from conception to its natural end, in every circumstance of its existence.

Last month, the National Women’s Council marked the eighth-year anniversary of the referendum on abortion by calling for "compassionate care" to be given to any woman seeking abortion services in her locality.

A bill was also introduced by the Social Democrats to address what the party described as deficiencies in the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018.

The party argued that a review of the legislation - commissioned by the Government - proved that Ireland's abortion laws were failing women.

The bill sought to abolish the three-day wait period, end the criminalisation of medical professionals, and expand the grounds for fatal foetal abnormality.

However, it was defeated in the Dáil by 85 votes to 30.

Former priest will face trial for allegedly molesting boys in SLO County

A former Jesuit priest accused of raping and molesting four children from Mexico for nearly two decades and throughout California — including in San Luis Obispo County — will face trial. 

The District Attorney’s Office announced SLO County Superior Court Judge Jesse Moreno’s ruling in a news release Friday after several of the alleged victims testified during four days of preliminary hearings held since March. 

“This ruling affirms that there is sufficient evidence for these serious allegations to be fully heard in court,” District Attorney Dan Dow said in the release. “Cases involving the sexual abuse of children leave lasting harm, and our office is committed to holding offenders accountable regardless of when these crimes occurred.” 

The Rev. Theodore Gabrielli, 62, will be held to answer on 24 felony counts of forced oral copulation, sexual abuse, forcible lewd acts, aggravated sexual assault and sodomy by force. All of the acts were allegedly committed against children under the age of 15 between 1991 and 2010. 

The priest was previously charged with 35 counts for the same crimes, but Assistant District Attorney Eric Dobroth said the prosecutor on the case will not pursue all the charges. 

“The District Attorney’s Office is contemplating filing additional charges, which it believes were proven at the hearing,” the release said. 

The Rev. Theodore Gabrielli leads Mass at the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s 25th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice from Oct. 22-24, 2022, in Washington, D.C. 

Four alleged victims have come forward against the priest: Three brothers from Mexico — Oscar, Patricio and Felix — and a fourth victim, Steven, from San Jose, California, who is not related to the family. 

They have all gone by their first or middle names only during court hearings to protect their identities. 

The family from Tijuana, Mexico, allegedly became close with Gabrielli when the brothers were young, and the priest was allowed to take the three boys with him to many places across Mexico and the United States, including to San Luis Obispo County. 

Steven, who is not a member of the family, was also allegedly permitted to travel with Gabrielli. 

“We recognize the courage it takes for victims to come forward, and we will continue to stand with them in the pursuit of justice,” Dow said in the release. 

Gabrielli was arrested a year ago on June 12, 2025, and accused of sexually assaulting the boys on these trips, including at his parents’ house in Los Osos. 

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges in July. Gabrielli is scheduled to return to court for his next hearing on July 14. 

He will remain in custody at the SLO County jail without bail, the release said.

After Rumors Link Catholic Priest to Slain Mozambican Bishop’s Death, Parish Urges Truth, Prayer

A Catholic parish in Mozambique has called on the people of God to reject unverified accusations circulating on social media and to remain united in prayer following the June 6 killing of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of the country’s Catholic Diocese of Quelimane.

In a Wednesday, June 10, communiqué, Saint Anne Parish of Quelimane Diocese distanced itself from reports appearing on some Facebook pages that allegedly associate Fr. Novais Adelino Amado with the death of the 54-year-old Bishop, who was killed in a gunshot attack at his residence during the early hours of June 6.

“At this moment of mourning, pain, and shock for the entire Church, Saint Anne Parish urges Christian responsibility in the face of false information circulating on some Facebook pages,” the communiqué states.

The parish said allegations linking Fr. Novais to the Bishop’s death have no official basis.

“Unverified and seriously irresponsible information has been published, attempting to associate the name of Reverend Father Novais with the death of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso. This information is false, unofficial, and must be rejected,” the statement further reads.

The Mozambican Parish goes on to appeal to Catholics and the wider public not to contribute to the spread of rumors as investigations into the Bishop’s death continue.

“We ask all the faithful not to share rumors and not to comment on baseless accusations,” the statement says.

Instead, Saint Anne Parish urges the people of God to “await with serenity and prayer an official statement from the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM), the only legitimate body authorized to speak on the matter.”

Mozambican authorities have confirmed that assailants gained access to the residence of the fourth Bishop of Quelimane and opened fire, striking him in the chest.

Reflecting on the Church’s response to the tragedy, the parish cautioned against allowing grief to become a source of division.

“Pain must not be used to spread hatred, division, or lies. As Christians, we are called to truth, prudence, and charity,” the communiqué says.

The parish concluded by inviting the people of God to remain spiritually united as the Church mourns the slain Bishop.

“Let us remain united in prayer for the eternal rest of Dom Osório Citora Afonso, entrusting everything to God’s justice and mercy,” the statement says.

According to biographical information circulating in local media, Fr. Novais is a Priest of the Diocese of Quelimane. Born in August 1986 in Quelimane, he was ordained a Priest in November 2017.

Since his ordination, he has served in several pastoral and administrative roles in the Diocese, including Diocesan Chancellor, Assistant Pastor of Holy Family Parish, and lecturer of Ethics at the Catholic University of Mozambique (UCM).

Commission for the Protection of Minors may point out to Rome serious failures in reporting systems

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors may communicate directly to the competent dicasteries of the Holy See any serious or repeated deficiencies detected in the reporting and protection systems of local Churches, as established in the new statutes approved by Pope Leo XIV for an experimental period of three years.

The Holy See Press Office published the updated statutes of the Commission, which replace those approved in 2015 and adapt the functioning of the body to the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, the reform of the Roman Curia promulgated by Pope Francis in 2022.

Leo XIV updates the structure of the Commission

The reform keeps the Commission integrated within the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, but reaffirms its specific mission of advising the Holy Father directly on all matters related to the protection of minors and vulnerable persons.

The new text clarifies the competencies of the body, its relations with the various dicasteries, and its role in promoting prevention and accompaniment policies throughout the Church.

The Commission will continue to report directly to the Pope through its president and will collaborate closely with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in areas such as formation, the development of protection programs, the preparation of ad limina visits, and the drafting of the annual report on safeguarding.

In addition, the president or the secretary of the Commission will form part of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith during their term of office.

Greater attention to victims and survivors

The update of the statutes places special emphasis on listening to victims and survivors of abuse as one of the fundamental principles of the Commission’s work.

The president of the body, French Archbishop Thibault Verny, highlighted that the new text is the result of the experience accumulated by the Church in recent years.

“The Statutes represent an important step in deepening our shared responsibility to protect and care for the most vulnerable,” he stated.

Verny added that the new provisions “reflect our listening to victims and survivors, to experts in the field of protection, and to the experience of local Churches,” reaffirming that safeguarding remains a priority for the Church.

Reporting, listening, and accompaniment systems

The new statutes strengthen the responsibility of dioceses, episcopal conferences, and religious institutes in creating effective mechanisms for the prevention and reporting of abuse.

The Commission must assist local Churches in establishing stable and accessible systems for filing complaints, as well as pastoral structures intended to welcome and accompany victims.

It will also promote the creation of regional and national centers where those who have suffered abuse can receive welcome, spiritual assistance, medical care, and psychological support.

The text also emphasizes the protection of the privacy of the persons involved and the confidentiality of personal data.

One of the main novelties is that, when it detects repeated non-compliance or serious shortcomings in local protection systems, the Commission may forward its assessments and recommendations to the competent dicasteries of the Holy See so that they may exercise their corresponding responsibilities.

An annual report on the state of safeguarding in the Church

The new statutes also consolidate one of the Commission’s most significant tasks: the preparation of an Annual Report on policies for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons in the Church.

This document will gather information from the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, episcopal conferences, religious institutes, and other ecclesial bodies to provide a global assessment of the initiatives developed in the area of safeguarding.

The report will be presented to the Pope and, after consultation with the Secretariat of State, may be made public with pontifical authorization.

According to the text approved by Leo XIV, the objective will be to offer a transparent view of the state of protection in the universal Church, identify systemic problems, and formulate proposals for improvement.

A commission with presence throughout the Church

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors was created by Pope Francis in 2014 as part of the Church’s response to the crisis of sexual abuse.

The new statutes maintain a structure composed of a maximum of 23 members appointed by the Pontiff, coming from different countries and with experience in areas related to the protection of minors.

The Commission will continue to meet twice a year in plenary assembly and will carry out its work through regional groups, study groups, specialized consultants, and a permanent executive council responsible for coordinating the various initiatives.

With this normative update, Leo XIV consolidates the structure created during the previous pontificate and strengthens the mechanisms aimed at promoting prevention, transparency, accountability, and accompaniment for victims throughout the Church.