Useful Documents

Provincial Superior’s Introduction

Dear all,

We, the Spiritans of the British Province, are united in our resolve to make safeguarding a culture that has zero tolerance for abuse of the young and vulnerable in any form. This link clearly provides the details of our safeguarding services and is therefore of utmost importance. The advice they contain and the relevant procedures in all matters concerning the safeguarding of children and adults at risk must be followed.

Our Spiritan mission, which is essentially the evangelisation of the poor, implies an “integral liberation of the human person” calls us to be “advocates, supporters and defenders of the weak and the little ones” (The Spiritan Rule of Life, 14).

For the Spiritan therefore, compliance to safeguarding is not just reducible to good practice but intrinsic to our ministry.

With Pope Francis, we decry all acts of abuse of children and adults at risk as “Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerlessness, primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and non-believers alike. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated….It is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults” (Letter to the People of God, 2018).

The General Chapter of the Congregation (Bagamoyo II) determined that while we provide a pastoral response to victims, offering them listening, support and accompaniment, with emphasis on restorative justice, we shall cooperate with the civil and canonical authorities when a confrere is accused of abuse. The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) but especially the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS) provides us with very prompt and effective direction and support in these regards.

We recognise that the determination to redress past hurts could only be matched by our resolve to make safeguarding a culture that has zero tolerance for abuse of the vulnerable in any form. In this regard, goodwill is not enough. It must be matched with action and accountability.

I am, therefore, very grateful to all who work for this vital cause; the RLSS and the CSSA, our Safeguarding Officers, confreres, associates and all who provide safeguarding care in all our missions across the UK. Let all hands remain on deck to make our Church the safe space and our services life-giving.

With my prayers and best wishes for this important endeavour.

Fr Ugo Ikwuka CSSp
Provincial Superior
March 2025

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You will find, and can download from here, the following essential safeguarding documents. Click on each to continue:

• Spiritan Safeguarding Policy Statement

• National Safeguarding Policies and Procedures of the Catholic Church of England & Wales.
  www.csas.uk.net/procedures-manual

• The Safeguarding Policies and Procedures of the Catholic Church in Scotland. https://www.scsafeguarding.org.uk/ingodsimage

If you have any safeguarding worries or concerns, you can report it safely and securely to the following agencies (please click on the relevant logo).