safeguarding

The Latest

Pope Francis joines the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in prayer at the Vatican on March 7, 2024.

Vatican publishes first report on Church safeguarding efforts worldwide

Oct 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The 50-page report by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is the first in an annual series that... Read more

St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Dunedin, New Zealand.

New Zealand Church’s safeguarding efforts praised, but report highlights need for action

Aug 16, 2024

An assessment of Catholic safeguarding protocols in New Zealand highlighted progress in many areas while also pointing to the need... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal flight en route to South Korea on Aug. 14, 2014.

Pope Francis calls for ‘process of conversion’ in the Church to prevent all forms of abuse

Nov 4, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The pope said that ‘the culture of death’ leads to sexual abuse. Read more

Cardinal Seán O’Malley celebrates Mass during a safeguarding summit in Warsaw, Poland, Sept. 20, 2021.

Cardinal O’Malley at safeguarding summit: ‘The wrongs done to God’s people must be corrected’

Sep 22, 2021

The archbishop of Boston said: “Abuse and its cover up must stop.” Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Jan. 27, 2021.

Pope Francis invokes Abraham Lincoln in message to safeguarding summit

Sep 18, 2021

The pope referred to Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Read more

Nazir Afzal, who was appointed chair of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales May 18, 2021. Photo courtesy of the Catholic Safeguarding Project.

In England and Wales, Catholic Church names former prosecutor to lead child protection efforts

May 22, 2021

Nazir Afzal, a prestigious Muslim barrister with a history of prosecuting gangs engaged in sexual abuse and grooming, is the... Read more