Bishop Hagemoen welcomes new CCCB document about the protection of minors and vulnerable persons
Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is welcoming the updated and expanded national guidelines for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, which were unanimously adopted by the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops (CCCB) Sept. 27 during their 2018 annual Plenary Assembly in Cornwall, ON.
Entitled Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation, the document was publicly released Oct. 4. It is an update of the previous document From Pain to Hopeadopted by Canada’s bishops in 1992, as well as a 2007 follow-up document.
“The purpose of this new document, as with the previous ones, is to inform the various policies and protocols of each individual diocese. This is a reference document that helps us do the policy work at a local diocesan level,” said Bishop Hagemoen. “So, this is very important and helpful.”
Large in scope, the new national document is purposefully focused on the protection of minors, noted the bishop. “Of course, there are other implications of this, which relate not just to sexual abuse but all forms of abuse, and with a view to making our environments safe for everyone – yes, with a particular focus on minors, but also for all people who are part of the life of our church communities.”
The document benefits from a number of learned best practices since From Pain to Hopewas released more than 25 years ago, he added. For instance, the new document clearly emphasizes the need to put victims first, and to deal pastorally with those who have been hurt by abuse.
“We must be very victim-focused in our pastoral approach. The document definitely addresses that, as well as naming how our parish communities must be healing communities.”
In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, a review and update of the existing Covenant of Care safe environment policies and protocol has been underway since early 2018. Pastors and other parish leaders from across the diocese of Saskatoon heard more about the update at a diocesan Administration Day Sept. 12.
Once the new national guidelines are taken into consideration, the updated diocesan Covenant of Care will be finalized and promulgated in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, said Bishop Hagemoen.
“This is an updating of our protocols, taking into account the experience of implementing our safe environment policies, and of giving great care and attention to how we oversee and supervise our people who work with high-risk age groups within our churches.”
The bishop added that the policy is also a way to help clergy and laity continue to do their good work of ministry with support and confidence –“because our ministry needs to continue, in fact it needs to expand. Our ministry needs to grow, especially for those who need it the most, including the most vulnerable.”
In addition to a clear delineation of procedures in cases of sexual abuse, the national document puts forward over 60 recommendations inspired by nine lessons which Bishops have learned through their collective experiences over the past quarter century.
“The document seeks not only to provide guidance for diocesan/eparchial protocols and policies as well as those for religious communities, but to stimulate a cultural transformation in attitudes about sexual abuse,” states a media release from the CCCB.
The new guidelines apply to all Catholic clergy (bishops, priests and deacons), as well as members of religious communities and lay personnel who are working in Catholic parishes or Church organizations.
In developing the policy, the bishops of Canada obtained input from a broad spectrum of people, including survivors, lay women and men, as well as professional consultants with experience and expertise in psychology, social work, child protection, and Church and civil law, stated the CCCB release, noting that the majority of experts consulted also have specific experience in protecting minors and vulnerable adults from sexual abuse.
“With this document, Canada’s bishops reaffirm their commitment to continue improving practices in their dioceses/eparchies with an emphasis on long-term prevention and pre-emptive action,” said the CCCB statement.
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Additional Information
Video: Introduction to Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation:
Document: Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation(PDF) is available from the CCCB website at https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Protecting_Minors_2018.pdf (permission must be obtained to reproduce the resource: permissions@cccb.ca). The document is also available for purchase from CCCB Publications: www.cccb.ca
Marian procession and Rosary following the Sunday Eucharistic celebration to the community cemetery for blessing of the grave-sites and prayer for all community members who have passed.
The largest skillet in the world – very necessary when feeding 12 hungry men in the wilderness!!
Members from the parish community of St. Joseph’s, Saskatoon, gathered for supper following the Sunday evening Mass on September 2 at the rectory/pastoral center (above).
Residents of St. Joseph’s care facility in Macklin (above).
Marriage renewal weekend at St. Mary’s, Saskatoon, with the Catholic Filipino community and Couples for Christ.
Cree spiritual wisdom and teachings as seen in the hallway at St. Francis Cree School (above)
In Christ, +Mark Hagemoen, Bishop of Saskatoon
My first spring season in the Saskatoon diocese has featured meeting with diocesan and community groups, visiting parishes and Catholic schools, and getting to know the great people of this amazing diocese. I continue to be amazed by peoples’ great faith and energy which is directed into so many activities of prayer, discipleship, and service.
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