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Bishop Paul Mason, a member of the review committee, added: ‘I think the voice of survivors can be absolutely material to the change of the culture. If we simply see safeguarding issues as problems to be solved, we’re a stage removed from the reality of what’s happened in people’s lives, and the more we engage with survivors then that change of culture can come about. We’ve done a lot of work in this area, we are continuing to do it, and in terms of safety, with the vital input of survivors we are making our churches safer and safer and I am confident about safety of our churches now.’ Cardinal’s commitment renewed In a personal statement, Cardinal Nichols said: ‘I have spent many hours listening to survivors. I have sat and talked with them, shared meals with them and wept with them. Nothing removes from my soul the horror of what has happened to them. I will continue to listen to survivors. ‘Hearing them is a humbling and learning experience for me. So, I say again, I am very sorry. I say this for many bishops who have gone before me over these 50 years. Many hearing this will feel that we let you down. Yes, we did let you down, in many ways in different times in different places for different reasons. I apologise again. I am so sorry for all that has happened over all these years.’
The Cardinal went on: ‘I have no wish whatsoever to turn my back on this challenge, no wish to walk away at all. I want to be there I want to do everything I can to take these important recommendations forward. You see I am very, very grateful to Mr Elliott and I gave him my full support in this that he has done for us exactly what is needed he has given us a searching analysis of how we work as a Church. And I think that is exactly what I can fully support and enable. I won’t be doing the work myself, it is the work given to professional people designated to do it but they can be sure they will have my full support and enabling ability to bring this to a proper end.’ It is a conviction shared by his confreres. As Archbishop Malcolm said when addressing the media at the end of the conference: ‘We feel that we have done a lot of work over the last 25-30 years but there is so much more to be done and we are very open to that. We are also as a group of bishops, a group of leaders in the church, we have all been profoundly changed in our hearts by the experiences of others that we have engaged with over those years and we want to use that change as the votive power to make a difference to our structures so that we can really be a Church that responds to the needs of vulnerable people and also to protect them into the future.’
If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, do not delay in contacting the police, using 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in immediate danger. It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased. You will be heard, be supported, and have your concerns taken seriously. It is your choice who you share your experience, or your concerns, with. You can contact Alexandra Griffiths, Archdiocesan Safeguarding Co-ordinator, on 0151 522 1043 or a.griffiths@rcaol.org.uk; Safe Spaces run by Victim Support on 0300 303 1056 or safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk or see the Archdiocesan Safeguarding pages for a list of victim support services.
Catholic Pictorial
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