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Safeguarding Children Documentation |
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Statement from Bishop Kieran O'Reilly,
Bishop of Killaloe on the publication
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Launch of Safeguarding Children
Standards and Guidance
Document (Revised Edition)
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FOREWORD FROM BISHOP WILLIE WALSH
I warmly welcome this publication which sets out the Policies and Procedures for
Safeguarding Children in our diocese of Killaloe. When the National Board for
Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) published their "Standards and
Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland" in September 2008 we committed
ourselves to updating our Policies and Procedures in line with that Standards and Guidance
Document.
All of us share the serious responsibility and privilege of trying to ensure that our children
grow up in an environment where they are treasured, respected and loved and are free from
danger of any form of abuse. The publication of this document is an important step on the
way to creating such an environment. It is a necessary reminder of the shameful truth of
past failures and a signpost towards a better future.
Our diocese is fully committed to continue to:
• Welcome and listen sympathetically to anyone who has been a victim of abuse;
• Do all in our power to help survivors towards healing;
• Gently invite survivors to try to begin the journey of forgiveness, always acknowledging
that for some the pain is still too deep even to set out on that journey;
• Ensure, as far as it is humanly possible, that such abuse will never occur in the future;
• Liaise and co-operate fully with the appropriate statutory authorities in regard to all
aspects of this matter.
I take the opportunity to acknowledge and compliment
• The personnel of the National Board for their leadership and support in this most
important work;
• The close and co-operative working relationship which the diocese has with the HSE and
Gardai;
• The members of our various diocesan committees involved in this work who have
generously given so much of their professional skills and their time to the work of
Safeguarding our Children;
• The Representatives in each parish who oversee that these guidelines are observed;
May all of us, young and old, be ever conscious and respectful of how special and sacred
each one of us is.
With kind good wishes,
+ Willie Walsh
31st May 2010 |
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