Time well spent
Opinion
Since transferring from the Pastoral Services Team to the Safeguarding Operations office for a brief sojourn, many of my friends and work colleagues have commented that this is a big change.
Their reaction has surprised me. For me, Safeguarding is at the heart of the Gospel message and Eucharistic living. The Eucharist and care for the vulnerable is intimately connected.
Australian Government statistics show that a woman loses her life every four days due to domestic violence and one in four people have reported being sexually abused as children. This does not even reflect the numbers of those subject to emotional and financial abuse. Whether we like it or not abuse is happening all around us, in our church community and quite possibly within our own families.
Safeguarding is about protecting people, not institutions. It is a vital aspect in the Catholic Church because it goes to the very heart of who the Church claims to be and how it is called to live.
At its core, safeguarding is about protecting the dignity of every person – especially children, vulnerable adults and anyone with less power. The requirement does not qualify as an additional compliance requirement because it directly follows the teachings of the Gospel.
Jesus consistently places the vulnerable at the centre and is unambiguous about the responsibility of those in authority: “Whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble…” (Matthew 18:6).
The Church operates safeguarding systems through organised structures which enable it to carry out its teaching mission. The Church needs safeguarding protocols because its members trust the positions which the organisation holds. The Church incorporates various institutions which include parishes and schools and ministries and sacramental programs to create environments which should protect people while offering them spiritual care and bringing them spiritual growth.
The abuse of trust by only a few people leads to permanent damage which affects people throughout their entire lives and undermines the very fabric of our mission. The primary objective of safeguarding requires churches to establish protective environments which demonstrate Godʼs protective power instead of showing fear or endangering others.
Power abuse happens when someone uses their authority improperly or when institutions do not establish sufficient mechanism to protect victims who require help. The main purpose of safeguarding systems is to protect people from harm while upholding their dignity and respecting their personal boundaries. Having confidence that a proper investigation of all serious issues will occur strengthens trust and confidence in our church community.
I am very aware how much time and effort each of our volunteers put into continuing Christ’s mission on earth. Having to do a Working with Children check or Safeguarding training can be a drain on our time. However, if by each of us doing this, we strengthen our net of protection and healing of the vulnerable, if by our actions we can save a child or vulnerable adult from abuse, how can we not see that this is time well spent.
The Safeguarding Operations team is here to help with these processes or screening and training, so please reach out for support and assistance. Together these collective efforts go a long way to ensuring our church, our communities, are a safe place for children, young people and adults at risk.
For more information or support, contact the Integrity and Safeguarding Department on 8210 8150 or visit adelaide.catholic.org.au/our-people/integrity-and-safeguarding
