Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Here's how to raise a concern, and the support available.
It is the policy of the Catholic Church in Scotland to report all allegations of abuse to the statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased.
Safeguarding means doing everything in our power to prevent abuse: firstly, through a safe system of recruitment for clergy, religious, employees and volunteers — including PVG checks, references and training for anyone working with children and protected adults; and secondly, through a reporting system so people can come forward with disclosures and concerns, be listened to, and have those disclosures acted upon.
The team includes the Vicar General for Safeguarding, Fr Joe Burke, who ensures that all visiting clergy are properly vetted.
All volunteers and paid workers within the Church who work with children or vulnerable adults must complete a PVG application through Disclosure Scotland and complete Safeguarding Induction Training before taking up post.
Advises the Bishop on safeguarding policy and cascades best practice to clergy, parishes and diocesan organisations (SSVP, Ozanam, SPRED, the Wayside Club, and pilgrimage groups), each represented on the group.
Chaired by Julie Kelly, an experienced criminal justice social worker, with a retired police officer, a retired head teacher, two GPs, a teacher, a lawyer and a canon lawyer, assessing risk and advising the Bishop where required.
Every parish has at least one trained volunteer coordinator, ensuring safe recruitment and training for parish volunteers, and acting as a local point of contact for concerns.
The Church's National Safeguarding Policy, updated by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland.
Read the policyThe Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Service requires each diocese to prepare an annual audit of safeguarding practice and procedures, at both diocesan and parish level. Numbers lower than 5 (including zero) are redacted in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence conducted an independent audit of safeguarding practice in the Diocese of Paisley, following the same programme of external scrutiny applied to the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, Galloway, Aberdeen and Motherwell.
Each year, Bishop Keenan issues an Annual Safeguarding Announcement updating parishioners on the steps taken to strengthen the diocese's safeguarding approach.
A monthly safeguarding reflection shared with parishes for inclusion in parish bulletins, keeping this priority visible in parish life.
Since the diocese's inception in 1947, 10 disclosures of child sexual abuse have been recorded (11 alleged offences, committed between 1964 and 2000, most alleged perpetrators now deceased). All allegations, historic or current, are reported to the police under the Church's mandatory reporting policy.
Pope Francis's 2019 norms for the whole Church on combating sexual abuse, requiring every diocese to establish public, stable and accessible reporting systems.
Read the normsScottish Catholic Safeguarding Service: scsafeguarding.org.uk · Office: 0141 332 7177 · Information Line: 0141 353 1177 · National Statistical Review of Historical Abuse Cases, 1943–2005
“As the President of the Bishops' Conference, and on behalf of all the Bishops of Scotland, I want to offer a profound apology to all those who have been harmed and who have suffered in any way as a result of actions by anyone within the Catholic Church. Child abuse is a horrific crime... Such actions are inexcusable and intolerable... We say sorry. We ask forgiveness.” — Archbishop Tartaglia, McLellan Report Apology
The Church cares about survivors and wants you to know that you are valued, and that help and support is available. To discuss in confidence how the diocese may be able to help, contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor on 07939 486290 (weekdays, 9am–5pm) or safeguardingadvisor@rcdop.org.uk, or write to: The Safeguarding Advisor, Diocesan Centre, Cathedral Precincts, Incle Street, Paisley PA1 1HR.
In partnership with Epione Consultants, a specialist trauma support organisation, the diocese has produced a resource leaflet to help anyone processing distress relating to recent events, with contact details for further support.
Read the Epione support leaflet
An apostolate bringing healing and peace to those affected by sexual abuse. Contact the Safeguarding Advisor to be considered for a retreat place.
grieftograceuk.orgThe diocese has hosted LOUDfence events, showing visible solidarity with those affected by all forms of abuse, locally and worldwide.
loudfence.comServices for children and families affected by abuse; Parentline weekdays 9am–9pm.
0800 28 22 33 · children1st.org.uk
Support for survivors of in-care abuse in Scotland.
0808 164 2005 · future-pathways.co.uk
National Association for People Abused in Childhood — advice and referral.
0808 801 0331
Confidential telephone counselling.
08088 020 406 · health-in-mind.org.uk
Support services for male survivors in Glasgow.
0141 332 9326 · speakoutscotland.org
Advice and information for anyone concerned about a child's safety.
0808 800 5000 · nspcc.org.uk
Telephone, face-to-face, email and group support for anyone affected by sexual violence.
08088 00 00 14 · glasgowclyderapecrisis.org.uk
Helpline, 7 days, 6pm–midnight.
08088 01 03 02 · rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
On 18 March 2018, the Bishops' Conference of Scotland launched the safeguarding manual “In God's Image” — a mandatory instruction on safeguarding across all Catholic canonical jurisdictions in Scotland, in force since 21 May 2018, and updated to incorporate Pope Francis's 2019 Vos Estis Lux Mundi norms.
Read on the BCOS websiteIn 2019, the Scottish Bishops published an independent statistical review of all historical abuse cases reported in the Scottish Catholic Church, covering 1943–2005.
Read the review