CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY (CSP) General Parish Presentation Archdiocese of Cape Town April 2016

CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY (CSP) General Parish Presentation Archdiocese of Cape Town April 2016

Homily of Pope Francis Monday 7th July 2014 Holy Mass in the Chapel of Domus Santae Marthae There is no place in the Church’s ministry for those who commit these abuses, and I commit myself not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not. All bishops must carry out their pastoral ministry with the utmost care in order to help foster the protection of minors, and they will be held accountable. I ask this support so as to help me ensure that we develop better policies and procedures in the universal Church for the protection of minors and for the training of church personnel in implementing those policies and procedures. We need to do everything in our power to ensure that these sins have no place in the Church.

Heal the Church - b being the Body of Christ Serve our wider Community Obey and strengthen the Law Safeguard our Children THE BREADTH OF WHY

BULLYING BY A CHILD PHYSICAL ABUSE CATEGORIESOF CHILD ABUSE DELIBERATE NEGLECT THE CHILDREN’S ACT DESCRIBES SIX CATEGORIES OF ABUSE SEXUAL ABUSE EMOTIONAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE LABOUR EXPLOITATION

PLEASE

CSP – OVERARCHING ELEMENTS • We are committed to safeguarding all children who interact with the Church • We recognise that in all matters concerning a child, the child’s best interest is of paramount importance • The Policy applies to all persons interacting with children on behalf of the parish or diocesan body

CSP Commitment 1. WrittenPolicy 2. Procedures 7. Implement & Monitor SEVEN STANDARDS 6. Advice & Support 3. Preventing Harm 5. Communication 4. Training & Education

PREVENTING HARM TO CHILDREN (Standard 3) • Code of Behaviour - interacting with children in an appropriate manner • Safe Activities • Safe Recruitment – who is interacting with our children?

NB • Code of Behaviour – some examples • EncouragedBehaviour: • - treating all children with respect, dignity and sensitivity • Inappropriatebehaviour: • - spending excessive time alone with childen • Prohibitedbehaviour : • - hit or physically assault a child • - indulge in sexual behaviour of any kind with children • Clergy and Religious should exercise prudence: • - in initiating and responding to physical contact

NB • Safe Activities – some examples • Ensure that the responsible adults are suitable • Is there sufficient supervision? • Is the physical environment safe? • For mixed groups of boys and girls, there should be • male and female supervisors • Be especially aware of on-line activity and the potential • for access to pornographic materials • Ensure that written Parental Consent is given for • excursions

NB • Safe Recruitment • The parish should take care that all Church personnel are to be recruited safely and are suitable for the job/role that they are being asked to undertake, particularly if they are to work with children • The following applies to everyone: • Job/ministry description • interview • references • identification • Sign Acknowledgement and Commitment form – receive Standard 3: Preventing Harm to Children

NB • Safe Recruitment - continued • The following applies to anyone who may interact with children or may have access to children on behalf of the Parish: (clergy, religious, PPC, Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, catechists, youth leaders, choir leaders, altar server coordinators, sacristans) • Police Clearance - confidential • Children’s Act Register B clearance (legal requirement) - confidential • Complete and sign Declaration of Suitability - confidential

NB • Safe Recruitment • These requirements make it very easy to feel that one is not trusted • That is simply not the case! • We are showing the parents in our parishes that the Church is a SAFE environment for their children • …and equally important • We are also visibly showing those who might harm our children that they will not have access to our children

Parish CSP Coordinator • The Parish Priest has primary responsibility for the CSP in the parish • ..but the Coordinator is the heart of the CSP • She/he is co-opted onto the Parish Pastoral Council • The role is largely administrative, managing the Safe Recruitment elements, monitoring training and facilitating communication with the parish • NEITHER THE PRIEST NOR THE COORDINATOR HANDLES CASES OF CHILD ABUSE NB

Reporting Abuse • In terms of South African Law: • 1. Anyone who has knowledge of sexual abuse against a child, must report it to SAPS – preferably the nearest FCS unit (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) – (Sexual Offences Act) • 2. If a person, on reasonable grounds, believes that a child has been physically or sexually abused or deliberately neglected, they must report it to Dept of Social Development, SAPS or a Designated Child Protection Organisation (Children’s Act)

Reporting Abuse • Archdioceserequirements: • 1. Anyone who is interacting with children on behalf of the Parish must report abuse to one of the Contact Persons • 2. All parishioners are encouraged to report abuse to the Contact Persons • 3. Any child who has been abused by any person interacting with him/her on behalf of the Parish, is invited to make contact with one of the Contact Persons

Heal the Church - b being the Body of Christ Serve our wider Community Obey and strengthen the Law Safeguard our Children

CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY (CSP) General Parish Presentation Archdiocese of Cape Town April 2016