Safeguarding Adults who may be Vulnerable

Newsletter 2021

Letter from Bishop Leahy

The Church has a long tradition of caring for the vulnerable in society. Many Religious Congregations were established to care for the elderly, the sick, the vulnerable and the poor.  We should be proud of what is good in that tradition.  However, we also need to learn from the times when people and services were not person centred in their approach and people were not treated with respect and dignity. 

There has been a growing awareness over the past 30 years regarding child safeguarding.  The Church has taken significant steps in ensuring the safety of children in their involvement with church activities. 

In recent years’ society has begun to give attention to safeguarding adults who may be vulnerable to abuse. In May 2019 Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter ‘Vos Estis Lux Mundi’.  This stresses the importance of protecting vulnerable people and the need to put in place ‘concrete and effective’ actions to achieve this. In 2020 the Diocese of Limerick adopted an Adult Safeguarding Policy. I would encourage you to visit our Diocesan Safeguarding Website and familiarise yourself with the Policy and the guidance it provides.

In the past we learned about safeguarding through our failures, lets ensure this won’t be the case again in relation to adults who may be vulnerable.

The same principles that were adopted in addressing child safeguarding apply to protecting adults who may be vulnerable.  In planning our services and ministries we must consider risks of harm and plan to mitigate these risks. We must be open to the possibility of harm occurring and seek help and advice.

The Gospels are full of positive encounters between Jesus and those who for one reason or other were vulnerable.  In Ireland we have an expression in which a person who is vulnerable is seen as closer to God than others. (Duine le Dia). Jesus emphasised the importance of protecting the child and the adults who may be vulnerable but he also stressed the importance of seeing them as people with something to offer the wider community.  We are all part of the Body of Christ each with our own special gifts.

As well as ensuring that members of our community are protected from harm, we need also to ensure that they are enabled to participate fully in the kingdom of heaven here on earth.  We need to listen to them and learn from them.   As we move on the journey of safeguarding people who may be vulnerable, let us do so in an inclusive and enabling manner. A key part of safeguarding is ensuring that those who may be vulnerable are given opportunities to have their voice heard and that they are supported in engaging in society. 

Let us all commit to encouraging not only children but also adults who may be vulnerable to participate actively and safely in the life of our Church and community.

With kind regards,

Brendan Leahy,

Bishop of Limerick.