The Catholic Church in Australia marks Sunday 10 September, at the conclusion of National Child Protection Week, as Safeguarding Sunday.
By marking this day especially, the Church seeks to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and asults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within the Catholic context.
The Diocese of Broken Bay is committed to fostering communities of safety and care for all people, especially for children and others who are vulnerable in our community.
“With the theme for Safeguarding Awareness in our Diocese this year being Leadership and Accountability, I encourage all the leaders within our community to continue raising awareness of safeguarding, “ the Director of the Diocesan Safeguarding Office, Jodie Crisafulli said.
“It is through consistency and vigilance that we prevent harm and foster safe communities for all. Safeguarding Sunday 10 September is a timely opportunity to promote safeguarding in your prayers, news bulletins or parish gatherings.”
Bishop Anthony Randazzo said he is resolutely committed to fostering a culture of safety and care for children and vulnerable adults in this Diocese.
“This means a clear, consistent and accountable approach to safeguarding across the entire Diocese, including Catholic Schools Broken Bay, CatholicCare, and our clergy and parishes,” he said.
“It is by working together, every day of the year, that we can build a culture of safety and care within our community. Safeguarding children and vulnerable people is everyone’s business.”
In March 2021, Bishop Randazzo commissioned an external review of the Diocesan Safeguarding Office Charter consistent with its commitment to continuous improvement.
Following a process of consultation with key internal stakeholders and the independent members of the Diocesan Safeguarding Strategic Advisory Panel, an independent report was provided to the Bishop containing recommendations to further strengthen the Safeguarding Charter. The resulting second edition of the Charter was approved in November 2021 and will be reviewed every two years.
For more on Safeguarding in Broken Bay including the Charter visit https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/about/safeguarding