SAFEGUARDING MESSAGE FOR ADVENT 2018 

SAFEGUARDING MESSAGE FOR ADVENT 2018 

When he visited us Pope Francis spoke very movingly about the suffering and pain of those who were abused in our Church. “None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence, were separated from their mothers, and were left scarred by painful memories. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice”. He complimented the work of our Parish and Diocesan Safeguarding Representatives and our priests and religious who “with the help of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Church in Ireland, … have set in place a stringent set of norms aimed at ensuring the safety of young persons”. I thank all who keep these standards to the forefront of our Church activities. I thank you for your vigilance and your commitment to making our Church as safe as possible for children.

I encourage anyone with concerns regarding the safety of children or anyone who suffered in the past to contact our Designated Liaison Person, Sean Leydon (087-7431649) or our Deputy Designated Liaison Person, Róisín O’Doherty (087-7057516).

Francis Duffy, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois