Letter from Bishop Leahy on Safeguarding Sunday to be read at all Masses on the 28th/29th September 2019

Dear Father,

Earlier this month I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis. It was a really special occasion for which I am grateful. He asked me how things are in Limerick and I find it heartening that of the 4000 or so dioceses in the world, Pope Francis always recognises the name Limerick and responds encouragingly.

In February of this year Pope Francis called together the Presidents of Bishop’s Conferences throughout the world for a meeting on safeguarding. In preparing for this meeting Archbishop Eamon Martin spent a day in Limerick meeting people who had been effected by clerical abuse.

Arising from the meeting in Rome, Pope Francis issued “You are the Light of the World” which establishes new procedures, for the world-wide Church, for reporting abuse of children and vulnerable adults as well as abuse of authority by Bishops and Religious Superiors.

Reporting requirements are well understood in the Catholic Church in Ireland, where in effect, we have mandatory reporting.  In respect of children, the new norms are consistent with the arrangements in place within the Diocese of Limerick.  Increasingly there is an awareness of the need to safeguard vulnerable persons and the new norms will assist us in strengthening Diocesan arrangements regarding the involvement in the church of people who may be vulnerable.

I would like to draw attention to our Diocesan safeguarding website which we have developed to act as a resource for people throughout the Diocese. I would encourage you to access this website and to give us feedback to improve our safeguarding communication.

In order to ensure we continue to promote the welfare of children in their involvement in the life of the Church, I intend to invite the National Safeguarding Board to undertake an Audit of our Safeguarding Arrangements in early 2020.

I would encourage all interested persons to provide suggestions and feedback to me and as part of the Audit to also communicate any views on our safeguarding service to the National Safeguarding Board at New House, St. Patricks College, Maynooth.

I wish to acknowledge the work of all those involved in ministry with children, young people and persons who may be vulnerable and parish safeguarding representatives throughout the Diocese.  I repeat my encouragement to any persons effected by abuse in the Church to contact either the statutory services or the Diocesan Safeguarding Service.  All relevant contact information is available on the Safeguarding Newsletter which is circulated today at all Masses.

With kind regards,

+Brendan Leahy,

Bishop of Limerick.