Simply Catholic and Welcoming You

REPORTING ABUSE OF CHILDREN

Fr. Philip Shares the Blood of Christ with a Young Woman The Young Are The Future Generation and Future Church Yet So Many Suffer at The Hands of Their Church Clergy

Suspected or reported abuse upon a child must forthwith be reported to the appropriate Child Protection Agency.

In Canada all Child Protection Acts have a section that reads;

"Every person who has information with respect to the abandonment, desertion or need for protection of a child or the infliction of abuse upon a child must forthwith report such information to the appropriate Child Protection Agency."

All provinces have similar laws in place and their own Child Protection Services Departments. Clergy should be advised that, apart from the question of whether or not they are bound to answer questions in court, there is a positive obligation in each Child Welfare Act which cannot be ignored. 

The Child Welfare Act is as follows: 

Reporting abuse of a child every person who has information of the abandonment, desertion or need for protection of a child or the infliction of abuse upon a child shall forthwith report the information to a society. 

Duty of Professional to report: Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act, every person who has reasonable grounds to suspect in the course of the person's professional or official duties that a child has suffered or is suffering from abuse that may have been caused or permitted by a person who has or has had charge of the child shall forthwith report the suspected abuse to a society. 

Privilege abolished: This section applies notwithstanding that the information reported is confidential or privileged and no action for making the report shall be instituted against any person who reports the information to a society in accordance with subsection (1) or (2) unless the giving of the information is done maliciously or without reasonable grounds to suspect that the information is true. 

Solicitor and Client privilege: Nothing in this section shall abrogate any privilege that may exist between a solicitor and the solicitor's client. 

This Section was considered when a doctor was charged with failure to report suspected child abuse. In acquitting the doctor on the particular facts, the court asked whether there had been reasonable grounds to suspect abuse, and whether, under the circumstances, it was reasonable to refrain from reporting it. It must be pointed out that while the decision is helpful in understanding the statutory duty, it may not be the final answer to the question. 

It is suggested that members of the clergy, whether acting in the capacity of pastor or under the seal of the confessional, clearly inform any person who might be discussing this type of matter of the duty upon the clergy under the Child Welfare Act. 

Diocesan Policies: 
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICY 

Two Youths Being Confirmed at a Home Church Everything Possible Must be Done to Protect Our Youth and Other Vulnerable Persons

It is the obligation of the Directors and the Incumbent to ensure that their congregations are free from sexual misconduct.

It is the responsibility of the Directors and Incumbent to ensure the parish has implemented, and is maintaining, an effective screening policy.

Volunteers must receive training at the beginning of their ministry assignment regarding the Diocesan policy and sign a policy acknowledgement form. 

We don't have to re-invent the wheel in terms of such training. Parish Training Kits are available from the Diocesan web sites of Anglican and Roman Catholic churches and a training video called “Learn To Spot it, Learn to Stop it” available for purchase on DVD from Augsburg Fortress (1-800-265-6397).  New training case studies can be found on the Anglican Diocesan YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/tordio135). 

Under similar legislation in each province, every person who has information with respect to the abandonment, desertion or need for protection of a child, or the infliction of abuse upon a child, must report this information to the appropriate Children’s Aid Society and inform the Diocesan/Provincial Bishop.  

Screening In Faith: The Responsible Ministry

Our Family at Our Daughters Confirmations The Call to Forgive Does Not Negate our Responsibility to Ruthlessly Root out Abuse from Our Communities

The Screening in Faith policy establishes minimum standards for the screening of staff and volunteers. Any parish or organization may develop more comprehensive policies of its own to reflect its own circumstances provided such policies at least meet the minimum standard of protection for children and vulnerable adults, and physical, spiritual and financial responsibilities contained in the policy. Screening standards must be consistently applied to all appropriate ministries. 

All Directors and Incumbents are required to sign the Screening section of the annual returns, verifying that their congregation has met the following compliance indicators: 

All ministry activities of the congregation are listed and assessed for risk. 

All individuals in medium and high risk positions have attended Sexual Misconduct Policy training at the beginning of their ministry and every three years thereafter. 

All individuals in a high risk position have completed a Police Record Check using the Diocesan approved process at the beginning of their ministry and every three years thereafter. 

That the congregation, to the best of your knowledge, is fully compliant with the standards and procedures of the Responsible Ministry: Screening in Faith policy. 

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