Guide for parishes on safeguarding

This Guide is designed specifically for those serving in parishes: priests, consecrated persons, and lay people. It aims to help them better understand the process of creating a safe environment for minors and vulnerable persons. In the form of answers to simple questions about preventing and responding to violence, the booklet provides basic knowledge about how adults can take responsibility for children’s safety.

In two sections, the Guide covers the following topics:

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SAFETY

• What environment can be considered safe for minors and vulnerable persons?
• What actions are considered violence?
• What is included in the crime of sexual violence?
• What signs can indicate that a person has experienced sexual violence?
• What are the consequences of sexual violence for a person who experienced it?
• What signs can help you identify the offender?
• What enables violence in any environment, particularly in the Church?

HOW TO RESPOND TO VIOLENCE IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY

• How to act when you witness violence against a minor or a vulnerable person or if you disclose such information.
• How should you react if someone tells you about a recent or past violence incident?
• Barriers that prevent victims from reporting the incident.
• Components of forming a safe environment for children in the Church.
• How can a parish prevent sexual violence against minors and vulnerable persons in its environment?

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

USEFUL CONTACTS

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