Keeping us Safe
Bishop Nicholas has told Diocesan Synod that the recent report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was sobering and “requires a careful and thorough response”.
In his Presidential Address to the October Synod, held via Zoom, the Bishop said:
“It is not for any individual to sort out what is a societal and institutional problem with a particularly damaging impact on the individuals who are victims, and indeed on abusers who are also deeply damaged by their own actions.
“As a Church we are attempting a collective response to what is abhorrent to our beliefs and values. The task has to be of constant and rapid improvement.
“I want to pay tribute to those who are leading on this for the Diocese, and today particularly Heather Bland our DSA who is retiring at the end of the year. Thank you for all she has done in what at times is an extremely difficult and demanding job.”
View a Zoom recording of the Synod here.<https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/4E_6g-V549bYmgssRW5l0m0YQSt5vIC0bYPKcZtzfvb-mxYYrur4FXSrOLCHYr6B.AnjiV_EGW9pZbyAq
On Monday, the Church of England House of Bishops unanimously endorsed a motion fully accepting the IICSA report, unreservedly apologising to victims and survivors for the harm done by the Church and committing itself to urgently implementing the recommendations.
The House also unanimously agreed with the proposal that the Church should move towards establishing an independent safeguarding structure, with a new trustee body responsible for safeguarding to take over responsibility for the Archbishops’ Council. The House also agreed that an interim arrangement be put in place for additional independent oversight of safeguarding, prior to the establishment of the new trustee body.
The House then underlined the importance of a full response to the IICSA report being released in the coming weeks.
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