During their 2024 Summer General Meeting in Maynooth, bishops welcomed the National Safeguarding Board’s new policy, A Safe and Welcoming Church – Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland. This replaces its 2016 policy and came into effect on 11 June. A Safe and Welcoming Church takes into account changes in civil and canonical law, as well as underpinning the Church’s mission in safeguarding leadership; nurturing a positive culture of safeguarding; and, informs best practice for responding pastorally and reporting according to civil and canon law.
Bishops also congratulated Mr Aidan Gordon on his appointment as the new chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland. Mr Gordon updated the Bishops’ Conference on the current work of the Board, including participation at a conference in November, hosted by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in Rome, aimed at European safeguarding leaders from dioceses and religious congregations. Its objective is to enable sharing of good practice in child safeguarding.
The National Board was established to provide advice, services and assistance to constituent members of the Catholic Church in furtherance of the development of the safeguarding of children in a Church context on the island of Ireland. The National Board also has a role in monitoring Church bodies compliance with civil legislation and constitutional imperatives, policy and safeguarding best practice.
To read the new policy in full please click here