As with the previous two years, our parish communities have continued to be affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic throughout 2022. We have witnessed a very gradual reintroduction of ministries throughout the Diocese as we all begin to experience this new situation.
Despite this, the work of safeguarding within our diocese has continued to be prominent within parish and diocesan life.
In February, the Diocese was visited by auditors of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). The audit was part of the national audit of Safeguarding standards within the Dioceses of Scotland to assess the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the McClellan Commission (2015). This audit was also designed to measure the Diocese compliance with the safeguarding standards set out in ‘In God’s Image’ our national safeguarding manual.
In June, we were pleased to receive a very positive audit report highlighting a positive culture of safeguarding within our parishes and Diocese. Nevertheless, the report presented us with challenges to consider, none as important as to how we better reach out to those who have been abused within our Catholic communities….. (see above for full statement)